Вы находитесь на странице: 1из 32

The South Asian Times

e x c e l l e n c e i n j o u r n a l i s m
Vol.10 No. 26 Oct 28-Nov 3, 2017 80 Cents New York Edition Follow us on TheSouthAsianTimes.info
TheSouthAsianTimes.info Oct 28-Nov 3, 2017
The South Asian Times
e x c e l l e n c e i n j o u r n a l i s m
Vol.10 No. 26 Oct 28- Nov 3, 2017 80 Cents New York Edition Follow us on TheSouthAsianTimes.info

DIWALI CELEBRATIONS...
JAMMU & KASHMIR Strategic India,
Prime Minister
Narendra Modi
celebrated Diwali
with the jawans of
Indian Army and
US ties not
BSF in Gurez Valley
near LoC in Jammu
and Kashmir on Oct
19. Offering them
sweets and
limited to S. Asia
exchanging Arriving in India, Secretary of State Rex
greetings, he said
he considers jawans
Tillerson was set to meet Modi & Sushma
his family. Washington: America's relation
(Photo: Twitter) ship with India is of strategic
importance which is not limited to
NEW JERSEY South Asia, Secretary of State Rex
Tillerson said on Monday before
arriving in India.
Indian Americans Tillerson, speaking in Kabul, said
celebrate Diwali on Trump administration was of the
Newark Avenue in view that India can play a positive
Jersey City, NJ on role in creating a peaceful and sta Afghanistan," he said.
October 19. They ble Afghanistan. "I think, our view of the relation
played with "They already are providing ship with India is one that's of
fireworks in a joyous important economic activity creat strategic importance not just for
atmosphere, ing jobs which is important for the this specific region, but about a
distributed sweets future Afghanistan. And we think free and open IndoPacific region
and made merry.
they we want to encourage that as stretching all the way from Japan
(Photo Mohammed
well. We think they can be a very to India," Tillerson told reporters
Jaffer/IANS)
positive influence on creating the at the Bagaram Air Force Base on
right environment for the future in Continued on page 4

Trump's Asia trip to focus


Rs10trillion stimulus to on N. Korea & Chinese trade
boost Indian economy Washington: On his 12day trip to
Asia next month, President Trump
longstanding United States
alliances and partnerships, and
plans to pressure world leaders to reaffirm United States leadership
New Delhi: Prime Minister
help curb North Korea's in promoting a free and
Narendra Modis government
nuclear weapons pro open IndoPacific
unlocked Tuesday nearly Rs 10
gram, and complain region," White House
trillion in investments to recapi
about Chinese trade spokeswoman Sarah
talize stateowned banks and
practices, Sanders said.
build new roads and highways, its
What's still uncertain: While aides said
biggest move yet to shore up an
Whether Trump will Trump is still working
economy growing at its slowest in
visit the demilitarized on the details of his
three years.
zone (DMZ) between schedule, the govern
Plans include spending Rs 2.11
South and North Korea, ment of Japan
trillion towards infusing capital
and if he will meet with announced the president
into banks and another Rs 7 tril
Russian President Vladimir Putin would play a round of golf with
lion on the roads project, some of
on the sidelines of an economic Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and
which will run through economic
summit. "The Presidents travel Japanese golf star Hideki
Continued on page 4 FM Arun Jaitley is upbeat about the strength of the Indian economy.
will underscore his commitment to Matsuyama on Nov. 5.

OWN YOUR FUTURE


with a degree from SUNY Old Westbury
x More than 60 undergraduate and graduate degrees
x Small classes with exceptional faculty
x A student-centered approach to learning
x Conveniently located in Nassau County
Contact us at: (516) 876-3200 or www.oldwestbury.edu

DIGITAL DIWALI 14 BOLLYWOOD 18 HUMOR 27 SPIRITUAL AWARENESS 29 excellence in journalism


4 Oct 28-Nov 3, 2017 TURN PAGE TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Strategic India, US ties not


Xi 'most powerful Chinese leader since Mao' limited to S. Asia
Continued from page 3
his arrival for his maiden visit to South Asia.
Beijing: The unanimous vote to incorpo China. At the end of the process, dele
He was responding to a question on his major
rate "Xi Jinping Thought" happened at the gates were asked if they had any objec
India policy speech last week in which he
end of the Communist Party congress, tions, to which they responded with loud
sought broader goals for IndiaUS relation
China's most important political meeting, cries of "none", reported journalists at the
ship.
reported BBC. scene.
Later during his visit to Pakistan he dis
Mr Xi has steadily increased his grip on Previous Chinese Communist Party
cussed with the officials there the role of India
power since becoming leader in 2012. leaders have had their ideologies incorpo
in as well as reiterated President Trump's
This move means that any challenge to rated into the party's constitution or
message that Islamabad must increase its
Mr Xi will now be seen as a threat to thinking, but none, besides founder Mao
efforts to eradicate terrorists operating within
Communist Party rule. Zedong, have had their philosophy
the country.
More than 2,000 delegates gathered in described as "thought", which is at the top
Beijing's Great Hall of the People for the of the ideological hierarchy. Rs10trillion stimulus to boost
final approval process to enshrine "Xi China's ruling Communist Party has voted Only Mao and Deng Xiaoping have had
Jinping Thought on Socialism with to enshrine Xi Jinping's name and ideology their names attached to their ideologies
Indian economy
in its constitution, elevating him to the Continued from page 3
Chinese Characteristics for the New Era" and Deng's name was only added to the
level of founder Mao Zedong. corridors as well as remote border and coastal
into the Communist Party constitution of constitution after his death.
areas.
The government separately announced an
Chouhan taps investments for increase in the price at which it procures

Amarinder Singh flays Madhya Pradesh in USA


Continued from page 5
wheat, pulses and oilseeds from farmers. It
also waived off the penalty on delayed filing of
of nations that it must do all it can to save the initial returns on the new Goods and Services

Canadian Sikh leaders world from dangers posed by climate change.


The chief minister said the philosophy of inte
Tax (GST) for August and September.
The measures could help improve credit

selfdetermination remark
gral humanism propagated by the BJP for the flow to companies from banks weighed down
last few decades is still relevant. He was deliver by bad debt as well as boost connectivity and
ing the keynote at the inaugural Pandit Deen create jobs as the government builds 83,677
Dayal Upadhyaya dialogue. Upadhyaya was the km of roads and highways over the next five
Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister
main proponent of integral humanism. The years.
Amarinder Singh on Monday con
event was organized by the Foundation for India The spending push, anticipated by many
demned Canadas New Democratic Party
and Indian Diaspora Studies and the Indian after growth slowed to 5.7% in the June quar
leader Jagmeet Singhs remarks on self
Embassy. All nations, including the US, would ter, will also likely help the government blunt
determination for Punjab and said the
have to pledge to secure and protect the Mother political criticism ahead of state polls over the
Canadian authorities should take seri
Earth, or else this planet would not be livable in next few months that lead up to the general
ous note of such disruptive elements
the future, Chouhan said. elections in 2019.
trying to spread discord in India.
The dialogue Integral Humanism: Indian Unveiling the move at an unusually high
Amarinder Singh said that Jagmeet
Thought for the 21st Century Society, Economy octane press conference complete with a
Singh was obviously totally disconnect
and Politics was organized in the historic power point presentation, finance minister
ed from the ground realities in India,
Kennedy Caucus Room of the Senate Russell Arun Jaitley said the economy was on a strong
where Sikhs hold a place of pride with
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Building. Lawmakers, congressional aides and wicket and that temporary hiccups were not
their excellent achievements in every
members of the community attended the event. unusual when structural reforms were under
field. He accused Jagmeet Singh of try at any cost, Amarinder Singh said in a
Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya has said one taken.
ing to destabilise Punjab by creating statement here. At a time when Punjab
should not exploit the nature, but to make the When results of the GDP of the first quarter
strife with his illconceived and con was working on a holistic development
best use of it, Chouhan recalled. Exploitation came out then I had said that we will be ready
frontational remarks. and revival agenda, Jagmeet was trying
poses a serious question if we would have to for the response, said Jaitley, flanked by half
Jagmeet Singh, in a statement, had to whip up negative passions among the
leave behind a secure earth for our future gener a dozen senior officials of his ministry who
said that he considers selfdetermina Sikh community. The newlyelected NDP
ations. gave presentations on the health of the econo
tion to be a basic right in places such (Nationalist Democratic Party) leader
India is aware of such a danger and is adopt my. But ramping up government spending, at
as Punjab, Catalonia or Quebec. would not succeed in his nefarious
ing relevant measures. In India, Prime Minister a time when subdued tax collections and slug
This was clearly designed to spread designs as the people of Punjab wanted
Narendra Modi is working to implement this gish economic growth have strained federal
trouble in Punjab. My government will peace and stability, the Chief Minister
kind of philosophy, the veteran BJP leader said. revenues, could widen the fiscal deficit beyond
not allow any such attempt to succeed declared.
the targeted 3.2% of GDP.

New Delhi Bureau Web Editor: Bharat Bhushan Chopra


Meenakshi Iyer News Service: HT Media Ltd.
Delhi@TheSouthAsianTimes.info IANS Newswire Services
Jaipur (India) Bureau IANS Washington Bureau
Chairman and Co-Founder Associate Editor: Prakash Bhandari Arun Kumar
Kamlesh C. Mehta Hiral Dholakia-Dave Prakash@TheSouthAsianTimes.info arun.kumar@ians,in

Co-Founder: Saroosh Gull Contributing Editors: Surekha Vijh Photographs: Gunjesh Desai/ Printing: Five Star Printing, NY
(Washington DC), Suchitra Srinivas (New masalajunction.com.
President: Arjit Mehta Jersey), Shivaji Sengupta, Nilima Madan, Xitij Joshi/xitijphoto.com Contacts
Melvin Durai, Dr Prem Kumar Sharma, Editor@TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Chief Operating Officer: Ashok Vyas, Dr Akshat Jain, Photo Journalist: Sandeep Girhotra Subscribe@TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Ginsmon P. Zacharia and Ashok Ojha.
P: 516 776 7061 Cartoonist: Mahendra Shah Advertisements
ginsmon@hotmail.com West Coast Correspondent Advertise@TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Pooja Jain, Art and Design: Dhiraj Kumar Showaan P : 516.390.7847, F : 516.465.1343
Managing Editor: Parveen Chopra Pooja@TheSouthAsianTimes.info Vladimir Tomovski
P : 516.710.0508 Bhagwati Creations, Website:
Editor@TheSouthAsianTimes.info www.TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Printed Every Saturday by: Forsythe Media Group, LLC, ISSN 1941-9333, 76 N Broadway, Suite 2004, Hicksville, NY 11801 P: 516.390.7847
Website: TheSouthAsianTimes.info Updated Daily
Notice: The South Asian Times is published weekly by The Forsythe Media Group, LLC. POSTMASTER: Send all address notices, subscription orders/payments and other inquiries to The South Asian
Times, 76 N Broadway, Suite 2004, Hicksville, NY 11801, USA. Copyright and all other rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be reprinted without the consent of the publisher. The
views expressed on the opinion pages and in the letters to the editor pages are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of The South Asian Times. The editor/publisher does not warrant accuracy
and cannot be held responsible for the content of the advertisements placed in the publication and/or inaccurate claims, if any, made by the advertisers. Advertisements of business or facilities included in this
publication do not imply connection or endorsement of these businesses. All rights reserved.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info TRISTATE COMMUNITY Oct 28-Nov 3, 2017 5

Chouhan taps investments Impax Lab to be merged with


for Madhya Pradesh in USA Amneal Pharmaceuticals
Special to The South Asian Times
With over $9 Billion in combined assets, Chirag & Chintu Patels
New York: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Amneal becomes 5th largest generic drug business in USA.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan, citing his new
Bridgewater, N.J: Impax Laboratories Inc. and
investorfriendly industrial policy, has invit
privatelyheld Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC
ed US industrialists and corporate giants to
announced last week an agreement to merge
invest in his state. The new policy, he told
in a allstock deal, forming a new publicly
them at meetings in Washington this week,
traded company named Amneal
comprises incentives and little or no taxa
Pharmaceuticals Inc. Impax shareholders will
tion. Starting his weeklong visit to America
own 25% of the new company's shares and
on Oct 22, he arrived in New York on
Amneal Holdings member will own 75%. The
October 24. His industrial policy is first of
new company will have the fifth largest
its kind in India in the postGST scenario,
generics business in the US.
he said briefing USIBC including its presi Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj
Chouhan, on a weeklong visit to the US, Impax's market capitalization was $1.48
dent Nisha Desai Biswal, pitching for invest
arrived in New York on Oct 24. billion last Monday's stock closing price. In
ment opportunities in food processing and
connection with the deal, Amneal Holdings
other sectors. With Andrew Whitman, sen the country is safe under the BJPled NDA.
member have entered into privateplacement
ior vice president for government affairs at Talking in Hindi, he said: "India would not Amneal founders Chintu Patel (left) and
agreements with TPG and Fidelity
Varian Medical Systems, the chief minister spare anyone, if any nation tries to provoke Chirag Patel will serve as CoChairmen of
Management & Research Co. to sell 46.8 mil
discussed the possibility of setting up can us on the issue of terrorism." He also the combined company.
lion unregistered common shares at $18.25 a
cer treatment centers across the state. described the ongoing IndiaUS relationship
share. The companies expects annual syner ing greater access to safe and affordable
In his meeting with Selina Jackson, vice as a "golden age."
gies of $200 million within three years after medicine for people around the world, while
president for global government relations On demonetization and GST, the Madhya
the deal closes, which is expected in the first also positioning us for continued success."
and public policy at Procter and Gamble, Pradesh leader said that they were coura
half of 2018. Separately, Impax affirmed its Said Paul Bisaro, President and CEO of
Chouhan discussed tax rebate in the post geous decisions made by a determined
2017 financial guidance. Impax, "By combining Amneal and Impax, we
GST scenario for the P&G plant in the state. prime minister (Modi) who has been fight
"In the 15 years since our family founded create a more diversified company with one
At another meeting, Progress Rails Senior ing corruption of various types.
Amneal, we have established the company as of the industry's leading highvalue generic
Vice President John Newman, urged the CM At a separate session at the embassy, he
a leader in the U.S. generic pharmaceuticals product pipelines and a growing specialty
about expanding the companys operations observed that India in general and Madhya
industry," said Chirag Patel, CoCEO and Co business. Our combined portfolio will be sup
in Madhya Pradesh and sought his support Pradesh in particular have made remarkable
Chairman of Amneal. "This transaction com ported by global, highquality development
for its existing dieselelectric locomotive progress. Elaborating on measures taken for
bines the complementary strengths of both and manufacturing capabilities."Amneal
making facilities, where there is tardy poverty alleviation, Chouhan said that his
Amneal and Impax to create an even stronger Pharmaceuticals LLC, a privatelyheld compa
progress. state is working on a strategy for providing
company with the diversification, capabilities ny headquartered in Bridgewater, NJ, is one
Strength, currency ban and GST houses to all the poor people by 2022.
and resources to deliver enhanced value for of the largest and fastest growing generic
Ambassador Navtej Sarna described pharmaceutical manufacturers in America.
Addressing a community reception organ patients, new opportunities for our collective
Chouhan as "one of the most progressive, Impax Laboratories, Inc. is a specialty phar
ized by the Indian embassy in Washington, employees and increased growth and value
far thinking and visionary leaders." maceutical company applying its formulation
Chouhan came down heavily on terrorism creation for shareholders."
and pointed out that India is now different Focus on integral humanism Added Chintu Patel, also CoCEO and Co expertise and drug delivery technology to the
from the way it was in the 1960s. On October 23, Chouhan urged the comity Chairman of Amneal. "This combination will development of controlledrelease and spe
Lambasting Pakistan and China, he noted Continued on page 4 help us achieve our longterm goals of provid cialty generics.

City Council hosts Diwali event at City Hall


New York: New York City Council Bhavan Mandir, Harshit Chugh, Jarnal
Member Rory I. Lancman, Council Singh, and Renee Mehrra. Democratic
Speaker Melissa MarkViverito, and District Leader Dr. Neeta Jain in her
11 other Council Members hosted a welcome remarks said, May this
Diwali Celebration on Monday in Diwali light up peace and harmony in
Council Chambers where proclama everyones life."
tions were presented to distinguished The City Hall event was organized in
South Asian leaders. conjunction with Council Members
Diwali is a special time when mil Costa Constantinides, Elizabeth
lions of South Asians all across the Crowley, Daniel Dromm, Barry
world rejoice and fill the world with Grodenchik, Corey Johnson, Peter Koo,
light and love, said Council Member Karen Koslowitz, I. Daneek Miller,
Rory I. Lancman. I am honored to join Donovan Richards, Paul Vallone and
the many Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Jimmy Van Bramer.
Buddhists in our city who celebrate Dance performances were given by
this important holiday. Four commu Brinda Dixit, Erika Dhawan, and Democratic District Leader Dr. Neeta Jain (extreme right) with council members,
nity leaders were recognized: Shaanti Masala Bhangra. honorees and guests at the event.
6 Oct 28-Nov 3, 2017 TRISTATE COMMUNITY TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Indian techies seek Congressional Gujarati language now


help over Green Card quota on NJ elections site
New Jersey: The New Jersey California and New York, it
Washington, DC: A group of University graduate said he had More than 100 of these Indian elections site has expanded its added, citing a Pew Research
more than 100 Indian IT profes led his green card application in techies and professionals, and reach by now featuring a Center report.
sionals on H1B visas have 2012. some of them with their depend Gujarati language option. This According to the report,
knocked on the doors of US law "Because I was born in India ent kids, drove down and ew to year during the November gen Indian Americans Sharmista and
makers to get the countryspecif and due to this per country limit, Washington to meet top eral election, the states Division Sudhir Patel, originally from
ic quotas for permanent residen I have to wait for 70 years, as per American lawmakers and their of Elections began publishing Samarkha, Gujarat, say adding
cy removed, saying the limitation a lot of research," Chatur said. aides. candidate statements and public their native language to the
resulted in massive green card Established a few months ago This is an awareness drive to questions on its website in election materials feels spe
backlogs for them. by some Indian technology pro make the lawmaker aware of our Gujarati and Korean, in addition cial.
Every year, the US Citizenship fessionals who have been waiting issues, they said, adding that the to Spanish and English, accord The main focus for the family,
and Immigration Services for their green card, 'Skilled long wait in some cases, could ing to a philly.com report. according to the report, is the
(USCIS) receives about 100,000 Immigrants In America' now have devastating consequences This will help the roughly healthcare debate.
green card applications from claims to have more than for dependent kids. 200,000 Asian Americans in Indian American state
highlyskilled Indian applicants. 150,000 members and chapters "We have a lot of kids who New Jersey who stay away from Assemblyman Raj Mukherji said
However, less than 10,000 in 25 states of the US. were born in India and the situa polling places during elections voting accommodations benet
Indians receive the green card, "We are legally here, highly tion for them would be worse," to be able to vote, the report rst generation immigrants
which is a step closer to citizen paid, taxpaying and law abiding. Chatur said. For instance Preeti said. most, it said.
ship. This number keeps on Were we born in some other Konduri, 16, moved to the US as The language accommoda Older generations have kids
increasing every year. country, we would have been a sixyearold along with her tions reect the states shifting that go to schools here, they are
"We are all are stuck in this 70 (US) citizens by now. The amount father some 10 years ago. demographics, particularly in paying taxes, they are natural
years backlog. Most of us came of positive contributions that we "When I turn 21 years old, I North and Central Jersey. More ized citizens, but they are still
to this country about 10 years make to this country, (we) just will be in college but I cannot than 300,000 Indians and not fully comfortable with the
ago," said Houston based Harshit want the Congress to see it and depend on my dad's visa any 98,000 Koreans call the state English language because they
Chatur, a key volunteer of the hopefully that will solve this more. I will have to transfer to an home, according to U.S. Census came here later in life, said
recently formed 'Skilled problem," Anirban Ghosh, the F1 visa which makes me an inter data from 2014, the report said. Mukherji in the report, adding
Immigrants In America'. president of the group, told national student here and I lose New Jersey has the third high that about 110,000 people in
Currently working for a utility reporters outside the Capitol this many opportunities," Preeti said, est number of foreignborn resi New Jersey speak Gujarati
company in Houston, the Rice morning. standing outside the US Capitol. dents in the United States, after the most of any state.

Governor Chris Christie


to attend Akshaya Patra
Diwali billboard seen on I 95 in
NJ benefit event New Jersey last week

Stoneham, MA: The Akshaya Patra


Foundations New Jersey Chapter
announced that Governor Chris
Christie will attend the 2017
Benet Gala on October 28th at
Chand Palace at the Martinsville
Inn in Martinsville, New Jersey. Trinity Church Wall Street and Union Theological
Infosys founder and Chairman
Emeritus Narayana Murthy will be
the events keynote speaker. The
Governor Chris Christie
Seminary announce Fellows Program
event will feature Desh Deshpande, New York: Trinity Church Wall The grant will cover a full range of Union, as well as the community
Board Chairman of the Akshaya already raised $200,000 for Street and Union Theological expenses for students, including life of the growing congregation at
Patra Foundation USA, as a guest Akshaya Patras school meal pro Seminary in the City of New York English language courses and living Trinity Church, providing a well
speaker. Ankita Narula, Director of gram. The event will will begin (Union) has announced the creation stipends. Union and Trinity will be rounded experience for these
Development for the East Coast, is with a welcome reception. Nearly of the Trinity Union Fellows pro partnering with sister institutions future Christian leaders. Union is
working with the New Jersey 350 business, nonprot, govern gram, which will bring internation in China and India to identify appli committed to cultivating a new gen
Volunteer Chapter to organize the ment, and philanthropic leaders al students to Trinity and Union for cants for the program. A key aspect eration of international scholars
Benet Event. The New Jersey from around the region are expect one year of academic training and of Trinity Churchs mission is to and global faith leaders, and we are
Volunteer Chapter is led by the ed to attend and support the orga faith formation. The program will help train and develop church lead thrilled to partner with Trinity in
members of the Parent Board, Dr. nizations dual mission of address begin in the 20182019 academic ership, said the Rev. Dr. William this endeavor, said the Rev. Dr.
Rachana Kulkarni, Dr. Anand ing childhood hunger and malnu year with an initial cohort of up to Lupfer, Rector of Trinity Church Serene Jones, President of Union
Kulkarni, Kiran (Perry) Kothari and trition and to promote education six students from China and India. Wall Street. Theological Seminary. This pro
Haresh Patel. for underserved children in India. Funded by a $750,000 grant from This program will provide an gram will expand and strengthen
Over 35 local leaders and philan This years event will feature an Trinity, the Fellows will join other opportunity for international stu Unions longstanding partnerships
thropists have sponsored the New evening of networking, entertain students in the Master of Sacred dents to immerse themselves in the with Christian seminaries in China
Jersey Benet Event. The event has ment, and dinner. Theology (S.T.M) degree program. rigorous academic environment at and India.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info TRISTATE COMMUNITY Oct 28-Nov 3, 2017 7

THE SOUTH ASIAN TIMES ENDORSES


The South Asian Times is a nonpartisan, valuesbased newspaper for the Indian community in the tristate area and for theIndian diaspora at
large in USA. Yet, from time to time, when we feel a worthy candidate needs to be supported for elected office, we endorse him or her. In the past
we have endorsed Narendra Modi for Prime Minister of India, and he went on to record landslide victory in 2014. We also endorsed the winning
candidates Bill de Blasio for New York Mayor in 2013 and Edward P. Mangano for Nassau County Executive in the 2009 election. For the
November 7 election next month, we are endorsing the following four candidates on Long Island.

ers.

THE SOUTH ASIAN TIMES ENDORSES He began his career in broadcast journal
ism as a news anchor and reporter with

JOSEPH SALADINO
Long Islands largest television and radio
station. He also worked with a Long Island
civil engineering firm. A lifelong community
volunteer, he is a 30 year member and past
Kiwanis Club President. He has been named
an honorary member of the Massapequa

For Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Fire Department Companies 4 and 6. He has
spent decades serving the community as a
volunteer, including as a member of the
taxpayers. To enhance transparency and ment remains steadfast in his role as Town Lions Club, the Sons of ItalyColumbus
ultimately save money, the Town Board and Supervisor, where he will protect the Towns Lodge, the Chamber of Commerce, and as a

O
n January 31, 2017, Joseph Saladino Supervisor enhanced livestreaming of town natural resources and drinking water, former Trustee of the Historical Society.
was sworn into office as the 70th board meetings and work sessions so that including its miles of pristine waterways, Supervisor Saladino is an outdoorsman,
Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor. In a the public may view these meetings from open space and wildlife refuges on both the mountain climber, experienced fisherman
few months, he has increased governmental wherever. For these reforms and the good North and South Shores. and boater, who has studied marine
accountability, transparency and integrity. government organization, Reclaim New York Prior to serving as Town Supervisor, resources and has brought this background
Supervisor Saladino is keeping his pledge to recognized Supervisor Saladino and the Joseph Saladino served residents in the New to the government, protecting our water
residents by preparing a Town Budget for Town of Oyster Bay for their accomplish York State Assembly for six terms where he ways and preserving clean and plentiful
2018 that cuts property taxes while elimi ments this year. was one of the original sponsors of New drinking water. He has a love for music and
nating wasteful spending. His commitment There is much more to accomplish in the York States Property Tax Cap and STAR enjoys jamming with his band at local
to ending capital borrowing in 2017, along Town of Oyster Bay, and Supervisor Saladino Rebate Checks, which got approved. Mr. restaurants throughout the Town of Oyster
with fiscally sound policies, has helped intends to do just that. A strong advocate Saladino was a leading advocate for Megans Bay. Joseph attended Tulane University and
reduce the towns debt by $71 million the for the environment and safe drinking water, Law, which requires law enforcement holds a Masters Degree from the New York
largest decrease in Town history. he has led the fight for the complete authorities to make information available to Institute of Technology, where he graduated
Supervisor Saladino is working to deliver hydraulic containment and remediation of the public regarding registered sex offend Summa Cum Laude.
important services and restore the publics the GrummanNavy plume. As a State
trust in government. To accomplish just Assemblyman, Mr. Saladino authored and
that, he and the Town Board took swift passed milestone legislation in 2014 to
action to install a new, independent Board of begin the states process of cleaning up the
Ethics with meaningful oversight. Together, largest and most highlyconcentrated plume
they have instituted disclosure requirements of dangerous chemicals in a sole source
for contractors, vendors and high level aquifer anywhere in the nation. As
employees to prevent conflicts of interest Supervisor, Joseph Saladino is proactively
and misdeeds. A former Federal prosecutor advocating for Grumman to test Bethpage
was also appointed as Town Attorney and an Community Park for radiological radioac
Inspector General will soon be hired to over tive/radiological materials along with 1, 4
see procurement and protect the wallets of dioxane. His commitment to the environ

THE SOUTH ASIAN TIMES ENDORSES

JOSEPH R.
CONWAY
For County Court Judge

M
r. Conway served with distinction plan. Since October 2004, Mr. Conway has
as an Assistant United States served as the managing partner of LaRusso,
Attorney in the Eastern District of Conway & Bartling LLP in Mineola, New
New York from 19902004. He served as York. Mr. Conway was retained by the
the lead prosecutor in several noteworthy Suffolk County Legislative as an independ
cases, including Michael Swango, a doctor ent ethics investigator.
convicted of killing numerous patients Prior to his tenure as an Assistant United
around the world, including several patients States Attorney, Mr. Conway served as a
at the Northport Veterans Administration Law Clerk to the Honorable Mark A.
Hospital; John Spano in his failed attempt to Costantino in the Eastern District of New
purchase the New York Islanders Hockey York. From 1978 to 1988 Mr. Conway
Team and the political corruption prosecu worked at the United States District
tion of former Chief Deputy Nassau County Courthouse while attending evening classes.
Executive, Robert McDonald for his role in a During that time, he received a Bachelor of
scheme to defraud the County of more than Arts degree from St. John's University and a
$70 million through a failed selfinsurance Juris Doctorate from Brooklyn Law School.
8 Oct 28-Nov 3, 2017 NATIONAL COMMUNITY TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Resolution on Diwali tabled in US Congress


Washington, DC: IndianAmerican
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has
has introduced a resolution in the introduced a resolution in the US House of
US House of Representatives recog
nizing the religious and historical Representatives recognizing the religious
signicance of the festival of lights, and historical significance of the festival of
Diwali to millions of Indian
Americans. The resolution was
lights, Diwali to millions of Indian-
introduced Oct 20th and has the Americans. The resolution has backing of
backing of ve other lawmakers.
Cosponsored by Pramila Jayapal,
five other lawmakers. Co-sponsored by
Ro Khanna, Tulsi Gabbard, Ami Bera Pramila Jayapal, Ro Khanna, Tulsi Gabbard,
and Joe Crowley, the resolution has Ami Bera and Joe Crowley, the resolution
been sent to the House Foreign
Relations Committee for necessary has been sent to the House Foreign
(L to R): Ami Bera, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna
action. While Bera, Jayapal, and
and Pramila Jayapal (Image courtesy: siliconeer.com) Relations Committee for necessary action.
Khanna are IndianAmerican law
makers, Gabbard is the rst Hindu gious diversity in both the countries "Diwali affords individuals ... an with one another and nd ways to building Washington as another hub
lawmaker in the US Congress and and throughout the world. In a sepa occasion to reect on what they are be of service to others," for members of our community," he
Crowley is a top Democratic rate statement, the Republican doing to enlighten, to open, and to Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard said. said. Congresswoman Judy Chu said
Congressman. "I'm proud to intro National Committee (RNC) chair lift themselves, their families, neigh This meaningful holiday celebrates this joyous occasion marks the vic
duce this resolution recognizing woman Ronna McDaniel and co bors, friends, communities, and the pursuit of light over darkness, tory of good over evil, knowledge
Diwali's religious and historical sig chair Bob Paduchik wished the country into the bright light of knowledge over ignorance, and good over ignorance, and light over dark
nicance for millions of Indian "Hindu, Jain and Sikh friends a peace, progress, and prosperity for over evil, said Congressman Joe ness. "During this time of reection
Americans," Krishnamoorthi said. happy festival of lights." all people and all nations," he said. Crowley. "It is a time for reection and renewal, let us also celebrate
For Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains in the "During the festival, we hope those "This is why Diwali is for everyone and renewal, and a time for peace. the rich cultural diversity that
United States and across the world, who celebrate are surrounded by to let the light of awareness shine As people from many backgrounds strengthens the fabric of our great
Diwali represents a time for giving family and friends as they practice within themselves and from them come together to celebrate Diwali, nation. Saal Mubarak to all," he said.
thanks, and celebrating the triumph the religious traditions of this mean selves outward to others," Meeks let us all be reminded of the impor Diwali, the festival of lights, is a
of light over darkness as well as ingful holiday," she said. added. Another Congressman John tant message of setting aside our celebration of the triumph of good
good over evil, he said. Noting that "The lightening of diya on Diwali Sarbanes said: "By lighting the diya, differences and working together as over evil, light over darkness, and
this year many members of the is a joyful celebration of the tri or lamp, Diwali reminds us that the one," he said. This years Diwali is a knowledge over ignorance, said
Congress will celebrate Diwali in the umphant victory of light over dark good will out last evil, that knowl wonderful chance to celebrate our IndianAmerican Congressman Ro
US Capitol for the rst time, the res ness. We as Republicans embrace edge will triumph over ignorance." community's contributions in busi Khanna. "I am proud of my Hindu
olution expresses its "deepest and continue to support religious "To all those who are joining in this ness, technology, health care, arts, faith and wish a happy Diwali to all
respect" for the IndianAmericans freedom in our great country and observance, I wish you and your academics and much more, said who are celebrating in California,
and the Indian diaspora across the encourage sharing these traditions families a wonderful and heart IndianAmerican Congressman Ami and across the country. It is impor
world on the occasion. It acknowl with our very diverse communities," warming celebration," he said. Bera. "The IndianAmerican commu tant that regardless of religion we
edges and supports the relationship McDaniel said. For Congressman "As we gather for the beautiful nity represents the best of the all take time to reect on the light in
of collaboration and respect Gregory W Meeks, Diwali is the Festival of Lights this year, we American dream and I ask everyone our lives and what we can do to
between the US and India, and rec "boldest, brightest, and the most reect on the opportunity each of us to raise a light in celebration. Over make that light shine brighter," he
ognizes and appreciates the reli widelyobserved Hindu festival." has to overcome our differences the next decade, I look forward to said.

Navika Group acquires Trump to nominate Rohit


Sheraton hotel in NJ
In less than a decade, Navika has transformed into a
Chopra as Commissioner of
full service hospitality group, servicing more than
10,000 guests every night with over 70 hotels.
Federal Trade Commission
Washington, DC: US President Donald
New York: Navika Group of Companies has
Trump intends to nominate an Indian
successfully completed purchase of the
American nancial services expert
Sheraton Mahwah Hotel, Mahwah, NJ. This
as a commissioner to the Federal
magnificent 25story building occupies
Trade Commission, the White House
some of the most beautiful countryside in
said.
the Ramapo Valley and offers beautifully
The nomination of New Yorkbased
renovated rooms and suites, many with
Rohit Chopra, currently a Senior Fellow
sweeping mountain views and all stateof
at the Consumer Federation of America
theart amenities. The fivestory atrium
where he focuses on consumer protec
lobby boasts an indoor waterfall a lush
Sheraton Mahwah Hotel in Mahwah, tion issues facing young people and mili
setting for sipping a cocktail or enjoying
NJ has an idyllic location tary families, is for a sevenyear term
breakfast, lunch or dinner at the fullservice
offering mountain views expiring on September 25, 2019, a
restaurant. This Sheraton offers a lavish
White House statement said.
Grand Ballroom or scenic Skylite Ballroom York State Thruway which makes for
From 20102015, Chopra served at
making it ideal for wedding receptions, busi easy access to New York City, northern New
the Consumer Financial Protection
ness functions, social, political and charita Jersey and the Hudson Valley. Darlington
Bureau as Assistant Director, where he
ble events. Golf Course is four miles away, and the
oversaw the agency's work on student
Complimentary PC workstations are on Tuxedo Ridge Ski Resort is 15 miles from
nancial services issues.
hand in the lobby, and you can get active on the hotel.
The Secretary of the Treasury also
the tennis court, in the fitness room or in Navika Capital Group is a commercial real
appointed him as the agency's student
the indoor heated pool and hot tub. There's estate company. With its Chairman in Mr
loan ombudsman. In 2016, Chopra
also a 24hour business center. The Haridas Kotahwala and President/CEO in
served as Special Adviser to the Rohit Chopra
Sheraton is 35 miles from Newark airport at Mr Naveen Shah, Navika groups motto is: (Image : fels.upenn.edu)
Secretary of Education.
the nexus of I287, Route 17, and the New Conventional Wisdom. Forward Thinking.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info NATIONAL COMMUNITY Oct 28-Nov 3, 2017 9

Washington/New Delhi: The Indian

India slashes US lobbying;


government seems to have drasti
cally cut down its lobbying
amongst the US lawmakers as the
payment made to its registered

American groups step up efforts


lobby rm has dipped to the lowest
in more than seven years.
On the other hand, several US
based entities including corporates
like Boeing as also some industry
groups such as Alliance for Fair According to the latest lobbying disclosure report filed by BGR Government
Trade with India (AFTI) and
Chamber of Commerce of the USA Affairs, which lobbies in the US on behalf of India, it was paid less than
have stepped up their lobbying
with the American lawmakers on $5,000 as "income relating to lobbying activities" for the quarter ended
Indiarelated issues, as per their lat
est lobby disclosure reports. September 30. This is the lowest lobbying 'income' received by the firm
While AFTI lobbied on "issues
relating to difculties the US busi from the Indian government since April-June period of 2010
nesses are having doing business in
India" the "specic lobbying issues" enhance defence relations", as also disclosure report led by BGR period of 2010, the last quarter that since OctoberDecember 2010.
for Boeing include broader topics "nomination of Kenneth Ian Juster Government Affairs, which lobbies when the gure was below $5,000. Before that, the Indian government
like "USIndia relations" and "India to be Ambassador to India." Other in the US on behalf of India, it was While BGR has been lobbying is the had paid $60,000 to BGR in the
trade issues." lobbying issues for this industry paid less than $5,000 (about Rs US on behalf of the Indian govern third quarter of 2010 and less than
The 'lobbying issues' covered by body include bilateral investment 3.25 lakh) as "income relating to ment for several years, its income $5,000 in the second quarter of
the US Chamber of Commerce treaty negotiations with India, IP lobbying activities" for the quarter in this regard saw a signicant fall that year, according to the disclo
included "promotion of USIndia related issues, as also economic ended September 30. in the third quarter from $120,000 sure reports led over the years.
defence technology and partner and commercial relations between This is the lowest lobbying 'in in the previous quarter. The latest disclosure report did not
ship encouraging US and India to the two countries. come' received by the rm from the This quarterly gure was cite any reason for the decline in
take actions that are necessary to According to the latest lobbying Indian government since AprilJune $180,000 for each quarter before the quarterly payment.

Father of missing Indian Gitanjali Rao named


girl arrested after he Americas Top Young Scientist
New York: When the drinking water in Flint, neer parents to create in their home. And she set
Mich., became contaminated with lead, causing about devising a more efcient solution: a

changed story: Police a major public health crisis, 11yearold


Gitanjali Rao took notice.
device that could identify lead compounds in
water and was portable and relatively inexpen
"I had been following the Flint, Michigan, sive. Her solution, dubbed the device Tethys, for
Texas: The adoptive father issue for about two years," the seventhgrader the Greek goddess of fresh water was so ingen
of the missing threeyear told ABC News. "I was appalled by the number ious that this week, Rao was named "America's
old Indian girl has been of people affected by lead contamination in Top Young Scientist" in the Discovery Education
arrested after he provided water." She saw her parents testing the water in 3M Young Scientist Challenge a distinction
"an alternate statement of their own home in Lone Tree, Colo., and was that comes with a check for $25,000. For the
events" about his daughter unimpressed by the options, which can be slow, past three months, Rao and nine other nalists
Sherin's disappearance, the unreliable or both. "I went, 'Well, this is not a in the competition had been paired with scien
police said. He now faces reliable process and I've got to do something to tists at 3M who helped them work from a theo
charges of injury to a child. change this,' " Rao told Business Insider. retical concept to a physical prototype. Rao was
Wesley Mathews' arrest Rao tells ABC that while she was doing her matched with Kathleen Shafer, a research spe
came a day after the body weekly perusal of MIT's Materials Science and cialist who develops new plastics technologies.
of a small child was found Engineering website to see "if there's anything's Rao plans to save some of the prize money for
near the family home. new," she read about new technologies that college but use the rest to invest in her device to
Police have said the body Mathew Wesley, Sherin (Image : zeenews.india.com) could detect hazardous substances and decided make it commercially viable. Rao says that when
was "most likely" hers. to see whether they could be adapted to test for she grows up, she would like to be a geneticist
Sherin Mathews, who has developmental that swept fields and other areas around lead. She pressed local high schools and univer or epidemiologist. Her lead detection device
issues and limited verbal communication the girl's home. They also asked neighbors sities to give her lab time and then hunkered allowed her to combine both interests, as con
skills, was last seen outside her family and nearby businesses if they have the down in the "science room" outtted with a taminated water can cause both rashes and
home in Richardson city in Texas on footage of the family's maroon Acura SUV big white table that she persuaded her engi birth defects. (Source: npr.org)
October 7 after her IndianAmerican father between the hours that Sherin was said to
Wesley Mathews scolded her and sent her have been left outside and when her disap
alone outside late at night as punishment pearance was reported.
for not finishing her milk. After 15 min Her mysterious disappearance had also
utes when he went out to check on her, prompted the Child Protective Services
Sherin was missing. Wesley Mathews, 37, (CPS) to remove Wesley's fouryearold
and his attorney voluntarily arrived at the biological daughter from their home and
Richardson police station on Monday and place her in foster care just a few days
shared a different account of his adoptive after Sherin went missing. Wesley and his
daughter's disappearance, Police Sgt. Kevin wife Sini on Monday morning appeared
Perlich said. The body of the young child before a judge, along with officials from
discovered on Sunday had not yet been Texas Child Protective Services (CPS),
identified, he said, and autopsy results regarding her custody. The judge sched
from the Dallas County medical examiner uled a new custody hearing for November
were pending. Sgt Perlich added that inves 13, but said she would remain in foster
tigators don't have any reason to believe care until then.
the body is not that of Sherin Mathews, but The judge said the extension would also
they're waiting for a confirmation and the allow time for CPS to conduct a home
cause of death. study in Fort Bend County, about 40 miles
The twoweek search for Sherin has southwest of Houston, to determine if rela
involved drones, cadaver dogs, an Amber tives or family friends could take her cus
Alert and teams from multiple agencies tody if necessary. (source: ndtv.com)
10 Oct 28-Nov 3, 2017 NATIONAL COMMUNITY TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Hindi secondmost popular Himanvi Panidepu


nonEnglish language is Miss Virginia
among US physicians: Study Teen USA Norfolk, VA: Himanvi
Washington, DC: Hindi is the sec came here from India, he said, The Indianorigin physicians Panidepu was crowned
ond most widely spoken non had learnt Hindi as second lan among came from three regional Miss Virginia Teen
English language among American guage and continue to use it. clusters GujaratMaharashtra, USA Sunday night in a
physicians after Spanish, a study Of an estimated 950,000 physi Uttar PradeshPunjab and Andhra pageant held at
has found. It is spoken by 13.8% of cians in the US, 100,000 are of Tamil Nadu, Shah said. Tidewater Community
multilingual American physicians, Indian origin, said Dr Navin Shah, Hindi also came up as the sec Colleges Roper
with 36.2% speaking Spanish. a Maryland state urologist who co ond most widely spoken non Theater in Downtown
The study released last week founded the American Association English language among bilingual Norfolk.
was conducted by Doximity, a of Physicians of Indian Origin. He patients in the Doximity study Ashley Vollrath was
2011 company that calls itself said 70,000 of them were those with 5.8%, after Spanish the crowned Miss Virginia
Americas largest medical social that were trained in India and emi second most popular language in USA.
network. It drew upon the profiles grated to the US, like himself and the US at 61.5%, and followed Panidepu became
of 60,000 licensed physicians Barai. by Chinese at 5.3%, French 3.3% the first Indian
Himanvi Panidepu
from among its members for the Thats consistent with the find and Filipino 3.3%. American to win Miss
(Image courtesy: Facebook profile)
study. ing of the study, which said, But Shah said the number of Virginia Teen USA.
The other languages that made Nearly half (44.7%) of all physi Hindispeaking Indianorigin Before winning this evening, Sunday nights main event,
the topfive were French with cians who speak a second lan physicians is declining rapidly as Vollrath was Miss Blacksburg including an opportunity to ques
8.8%, Persian/Farsi with 7.6% and guage graduated from a medical the next generation is assimilated USA and Panidepu was Miss tion local politicians on special
Chinese with 5.2%. school located outside of the more integrally. In 20 years, I Central Virginia Teen USA. needs and public education, fol
Dr Bharat Barai, an Indiana state United States, and most of these believe only one in five of us will 45 contestants competed in the lowed by an evening on The
oncologist, was not surprised by doctors immigrated to the United be speaking Hindi, he said. pageant. Contestants had a full Spirit Of Norfolk.
the finding. Most doctors who States to practice medicine. (source: hindustantimes.com) week of events leading up to (Source: wtkr.com)

Mindy Kaling has two NBC Workshop focuses on applying


comedies in the works Jain principles in daily life
New York: The Mindy California tech scene
Project will soon bow out might sound more pre New York: Jain Study Center of
after a 6season run once dictably lighthearted. North Carolina and Jaina
the show ends for good in However, Venice Beach Education Committee jointly
November, but creator, pro Venture will follow the tri held a threeday workshop for
ducer, and star Mindy als of a brilliant young learning the Fundamentals of
Kaling is keeping busy. woman in engineering who Jainism and how to apply Jain
Variety reports that Kaling has to tackle a conceited principles in daily life in
will produce not one, but boss in a prestigious, awful Raleigh, North Carolina from
two comedies for NBC with (and most probably sexist) October 68.
Mindy Kaling Among 50 participants who
the creative team of The venture capital firm. These
(Image : people.com)
Mindy Project. The Mindy two projects already seem came from 13 different states,
Project coexecutive producer, writer, like ambitious goals for Kaling, but one attendee was also from
All the attendees and volunteers who participated in this event
and director Lang Fisher is developing shes proven herself more than capa Britain. About 60% attendees
one of the series, asyetuntitled. If the ble. The Mindy Project thrived on were less than 50 years old and ment, and spirituality. A served for breakfast, lunch, and
plot summary is anything to go by, Hulu after being canceled by Fox, and several of them were born or detailed explanation on How dinner for all three days. No
quite a fair bit of politics will come proved to be a triumph in the experi raised in USA. one can live a life with mini fried foods were served as a
into play here. The show will revolve mental model that television now The workshop was moderat mum violence was provided. A way to promote healthy living.
around a group of dedicated diplo takes across distribution platforms. ed and presented by Pravin K brief overview of Jain Agam All paper products such as
mats in a small embassy in the And for better or worse, The Mindy Shah of Jaina Education scriptures was also included plates, bowls, napkins, and
Caribbean whose work goes askew Project had a strong sense of identity Committee. The topics includ during this workshop. Diversity glasses were from recycled
thanks to the arrival of their new on television that portrayed Mindy ed were fundamental concepts of world religious expressions materials. The attendees appre
ambassador: an incompetent, ignorant Lahiri (Kaling) as a unique comedy of Jainism, four Anuyogs and covering a brief overview of ciated the use of bio degradable
oil man. The second project, Venice protagonist. Various storylines in the their limitations, six Dravyas, Hinduism, Buddhism, and and ecofriendly paper prod
Beach Venture, was created by The show dealt with social issues such as nine Tattvas, Karma philosophy, Jainism and a brief comparison ucts. All attendees appreciated
Mindy Projects coshowrunner and womens rights, and obviously was a five Samvays and the concept between western (Judaism, the opportunity to learn and
executive producer, Matt Warburton. huge step for diversity with an Indian of Anekantwad, holistic spiritu Christianity, Islam) and eastern vowed to return if more of
The shows initial premise a roman American leading lady. ality, which includes Ahimsa, religions were discussed. these sessions were to be held
tic comedy set in the Southern (Source:filmschoolrejects.com) compassion, health, environ Simple Vegan food was in future.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info NATIONAL COMMUNITY Oct 28-Nov 3, 2017 11

Diwali & Annakut celebrated at


BAPS temple in Melville

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Melville, Long Island, lit up for Diwali.
Melville, NY: T he BAPS Shri This year's celebrations included food and games, and agegroup
Swaminarayan Mandir in Melville, the Annakut Thaal, which is a based activities for the youths.
in Long Island celebrated the unique and aweinspiring sight of The event for children and
Diwali Festival on October 20th devotion wherein numerous vege families provided an opportuni Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone with P. Vedsmaranswami,
P. Sahejmuniswami and Girish Patel
and 21st. Over 4,500 Nassau, tarian food dishes are prepared ty for community members to
Suffolk, and Queens county resi by devotees and of fered to the engage with spiritual and cultural Diwali Fest ival were Suf folk County Leg islature's of fice.
dents attended the event. Mandirs sacred images. This themes, thereby bringing positive County Executive Steve Bellone, Additionally, Representatives
Diwali, traditionally a fiveday year's Annakut consisted of more energy into the New Year, learn Hunt ington Town Supervisor from NY State Governor Andrew
celebration of various rituals and than 750 items of food. ing about scriptural narratives Frank Patrone, Hunt ington Cuomo's of fice attended the
Hindu practices associated with For the first time, this year's cel related to Diwali, and participat Councilwomen Susan Berland and Fest ival and read out a
each day, brings in the New e brat ion also included a ing in rangolis and other tradi Tracy Edwards, Assemblymen Pro clamat ion for the Diwali
Year for Hindus and celebrates Childrens Fair and Kids Diwali tional decorations. Chad Lupinacci and Andrew Raia, Fest ival from the Governor's
the triumph of good over evil. Celebration, which featured Special guests who attended the and Robert Fonti from the Suffolk office.
12 Oct 28-Nov 3, 2017 US AFFAIRS TheSouthAsianTimes.info

5 exPresidents attend McConnell denies abandoning


hurricane relief concert revenueneutral tax reform
Washington: Senate Majority
Leader Mitch McConne ll
stood by his previously stat
ed goal of passing tax reform
without reducing revenue
just days after the Senate
passed a budget to pave the
way for tax cuts that could
add an estimated 1.5 trillion
to the deficit over the next
decade.
Asked by CNN's Dana Bash
on "State of the Union" if he
was abandoning his long
stated vow to pass a revenue
neutral tax overhaul, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and President
Trump in US Capitol on Tuesday. (Photo courtesy Politico)
McConnell said, "We're not."
McConnell argued the tax proposal, the against the bill because he said it did not
Former Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and framework of which includes large tax cuts cut spending enough. "We're going to
Barack Obama attend a hurricane relief concert in Texas, Oct. 21. (Photo : AP) for the top earners and corporations, score a big legislative accomplishment on
would spur enough economic growth to tax reform," McConnell said.
Washington: Five former US Presidents ment in Philadelphia. Our neighbors, our
pay for itself and that the $1.5 trillion In a separate interview on the same pro
attended a benefit concert in Texas to friends, have got an enormous amount of
deficit figure did not take into account the g ram, Ohio Demo crat ic Sen. Sherro d
raise money for hurricane relief efforts, 'sweat equity' from all these volunteers,
kind of growth he expects. Brown said he did not see President
the media reported. and a lot of money.
"I actually think it's a fairly conservative Donald Trump in lockstep with McConnell
Former presidents Jimmy Carter, The joint effort raised $31 million for
estimate of how much growth we're likely on the tax issue just yet.
George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. disaster relief, the campaign announced
to get out of this progrowth tax reform," Brown argued Trump's stated goal of
Bush and Barack Obama appeared togeth hours before the concert.
McConnell said. reducing taxes for the middle class was at
er on stage last Saturday at the One President Donald Trump did not attend
The budget vote last Thursday cleared a odds with the plan McConnell was working
America Appeal fundraiser held at Texas the event, but sent a video message to be
key hurdle for Republicans on tax reform on, and contrary to what most thought, he
A&M University's Reed Arena in College played at the concert, thanking the former
passing narrowly through the Senate, by a said that after meeting with the President
Station, reports The Hill magazine. presidents for their efforts.
vote of 5149. T he lone dissent ing that Trump might pursue a different path
At the event, Obama said he "could not The concert featured rock and country
Republican was Sen. Rand Paul who voted on taxes.
be prouder" of Americans for their musicians such as Lyle Lovett, Robert Earl
response to help victims of the recent Keen, Sam Moore and Yolanda Adams.
hurricanes that struck the US. Country music singer Lee Greenwood was
Bill Clinton told the crowd that volun emcee for the event.
teering in the wake of crises dates back Lady Gaga made an unbilled appearance
before America's founding. "We've been and tweeted, "Nothing more beautiful
volunteering since before our than everyone putting their differences
Constitution when Benjamin Franklin aside to help humanity in the face of
organized the first volunteer fire depart catastrophe. #OneAmericaAppeal"

Two retiring GOP senators


sound alarm on Trump
Washington: A pair of
Republican senators sound
ed an alarm Tuesday about
President Trumps fitness
for of fice and warned that
his actions were degrading
and dangerous to the coun
try an extraordinary
breach that threatens his
legislative agenda and fur
Senators Jeff Flake of Arizona and Bob Corker of
ther escalates the civil war
Tennessee. (Courtesy RTE)
tearing apart the Republican
Party. Delivering an emotional speech from Corker, the chairman of the Foreign
the Senate floor announcing that he would Relations Committee who also will not run
not seek reelection next year, Sen. Jef f for reelection, told reporters in assessing
Flake (RAriz.) said Trumps behavior is Trumps ninemonth tenure, Ive seen no
dangerous to our democracy and sum evolution in an upward way. As a matter of
moned fellow Republican leaders to speak fact, it seems to me its almost devolving.
out about the presidents conduct. With their distress calls, Flake and Corker
It is time for our complicity and our joined a chorus of mainstream political
accommodation of the unacceptable to leaders newly emboldened to excoriate
end, Flake said. He added, Politics can Trump. Last week, former presidents
make us silent when we should speak, and George W. Bush and Barack Obama both
silence can equal complicity. The charged indirectly rebuked Trumps deportment and
remarks from Flake came hours after Sen. warned of peril for the nation under his
Bob Corker (RTenn.) questioned the presi watch, as did Sen. John McCain (RAriz.),
dents stability and competence, reigniting a denouncing the rise of what he called half
deeply personal feud with the president. baked, spurious nationalism.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA Oct 28-Nov 3, 2017 13

Change in shift: Govt opens dialogue in Kashmir


New Delhi: In a sudden shift of its aspirations of people in Jammu welcomed the move saying "dia
tough stand, the government said and Kashmir. He will meet elected logue is a necessity of the hour
it would start talks on Jammu and representatives, political parties, and the only way to go forward".
Kashmir with all parties, including dif ferent organizations and indi She hoped that all the stakehold
separatists, and appointed former viduals he wants to." ers including the separatists would
inte lligence chie f Dineshwar T he measure is significant come forward w ith a posit ive
Sharma as its pointsman for the because the BJP government at the response to the development.
troubled state. Centre had constantly maintained Senior Congress leader and for
Home Minister Rajnath Singh a tough line on opening peace mer Union Home Minister P.
said the move was to carry for talks with separatists in Kashmir, Chidambaram said the government
ward the "the conviction and con particularly after the 2016 unrest has admitted that its "muscular
sistency" in the government's that left over 100 civilians dead. approach" has failed in the state.
Kashmir policy. "We have decided The move comes at a time when "From notalks to talkswithall
that a sustained dialogue process some separatist leaders, including stakeholders is a major victory for
should beg in in Jammu and close aides of Hurriyat leaders those who had strongly argued for
Kashmir." Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz a political solution in Jammu and
The Minister told a hurriedly Home Minister Rajnath Singh has named a Umar Farooq are jailed on Kashmir.
special representative for Kashmir.
convened news conference here charges of receiving cash from With the appointment of an
that Sharma had "complete free separatist leaders were also possi ernment of India Sharma will initi Pakistan for subversive activities interlocutor, I hope the govern
dom" to speak with whoever he ble. ate a sustained interaction and dia in the valley. ment has finally admitted muscu
wanted, indicating that talks with "As a representative of the gov logue to understand legitimate Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti lar approach has failed."

GST 'Gabbar Singh Tax', Minister calls Taj


Mahal a 'beautiful
Modi antipoor: Rahul
Gandhinagar: Congress leader Rahul kabristan'
Gandhi mounted a scathing attack on
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, terming
the GST 'Gabbar Singh Tax' that has hit
hard the country already nursing the
wounds of demonetization.
"Ye jo inka GST hai, ye aam aadmi pe
bojh hai... Ye GST nahi, ye Gabbar Singh
Tax hai," Gandhi asserted at a massive
rally in Gujarat's capital Gandhinagar
where OBC leader Alpesh T hakore
joined the Congress.
Gandhi said Modi imposed demoneti
zation last year on a personal whim,
pushing lakhs of people into distress.
And if this was not enough, he intro
duced the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Rahul alleged the BJP was working for a handful of corporates.
in a tearing hurry.
"T he GST was brought by the remain silent. They will speak out." Gandhi asked farmers in the crowd if Anil Vij is a minister in the BJP run Haryana government
Congress, but there was a ceiling of 18 Speaking on demonetization, he said: they buy seeds and fertilizers from their
"W hat happened on November 8? mobile phones and with cheques. The Chandigarh: Joining the league of those making contro
per cent and did not have five slabs like
Modiji came on television and said I crowd replied with a booming 'No'. versial statements on the Taj Mahal, senior Haryana
the present. We requested the govern
don't like Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. "He destroyed the entire economy. He Minister Anil Vij termed the marble monument as a
ment to go slow, but they just would not
So I have decided to spike them from did not stop there but went ahead with "beautiful cemetery". "Taj Mahal ek khoobsurat kabris
listen."
that midnight. And by doing that he the GST. "GST was our thinking. We tan hai," Vij tweeted.
He called the Modi government anti
attacked the whole country by one brought it, it was a thought of single tax Vij, who is the cabinet Minister for Health and Sports
poor and said it was working against
stroke. of 18 per cent across the nation with in the BJP government in Haryana, is known for making
the interests of the common people.
"For the first two or three days he too less forms to be filled." controversial tweets and statements.
He asked: "Why is it that almost all
did not understand what has happened. He also took a dig at Finance Minister BJP leader Sangeet Som triggered a controversy last
the communities in Gujarat are agitat
And in a concert in Mumbai he Arun Jaitley for rejecting Congress rec week by saying that the Taj Mahal was a blot on Indian
ing, for the first time? It is because
announced 'I have done this'. ommendation of cutting tax slabs. culture. The Taj, a Unesco World Heritage Site and one
since 22 years of BJP rule, the govern
"But after fivesix days he realized he "Now there is a GST with 28 per cent of the seven wonders of the world, is visited by lakhs of
ment has not done anything for them,
made a mistake. T hen again he tax and three return forms. Now GST people from across the world. In a damage control exer
but worked only for a handful of indus
appeared on television and said if I has become a Gabbar Singh Tax," he cise, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had
trialists?
don't end the menace of black money said, punning on the name of the said the famed monument in Agra was a part of Indian
"T he people are tormented by
by December 30, then hang me." famous Bollywood villain in "Sholay". heritage and he is to visit it on October 26.
Narendra Modi and they will no longer
14 Oct 28-Nov 3, 2017 DIWALI SPECIAL

Diwali at Times Square organizers opted for digital fireworks out of necessity, but in
India debate has started on digital Diwali in the light of health and environmental costs
of fireworks and the Supreme Court order banning crackers in Delhi area this Diwali.

H ow do we celebrate the festival of


lights without sound, smoke and fury?
The Supreme Court ordained that fireworks
But why is there so much despair? If the
aim is to have fun on Diwali, there are a hun-
dred different ways to do so. One suggestion
work displays on websites, in virtual reality
and even on television. Whats more, you
could enjoy it even on your smartphone!
firecrackers would agree that Diwali would
be much more fun without breathing in nox-
ious fumes. Last year, air quality in the capital
will not be sold in Delhi and the NCR this is using technology to create toys for chil- If India is changing the way it claims, and deteriorated to such record levels of toxicity
Diwali season; in all likelihood they may be dren that illuminate but do not ignite. For in- the majority party want to take the Made in that schools were closed and all construction
banned forever. Many feel the fun has been stance, chakras made of LED lights, torches India, Swachh Bharat and Digital India route activity came to a halt. For Diwalis sake let us
taken out of the festival to hurt the senti- fashioned as psychedelic sparklers, electronic to development, why are its supporters not look at the problem holistically and arrive at
ments of the majority community. They anars, aerodynamic smoke-free rockets wanting to walk the same road to clean the a pragmatic solution. So, heres to a virtual,
argue that if crackers add to the pollution, the possibilities are endless. And if imagina- air, reduce pollution and give citizens a bet- smoke- and noise-free Diwali in future. Re-
then why arent other pollutants such as tion is the true mother of invention, we could ter atmosphere during their favorite festival? member, celebrations can be just a click away!
like vehicular traffic also banned. aim for a Digital Diwali with electronic fire- After all, those criticising the ban on sale of
Source: The Hindu

I celebrated Diwali in the Virtual World


B y A s h is h S h a r m a place at this time of the year in Delhi-NCR. and read casually from the Desi Beats pub- tions in one crucial aspect: ecological impact.
Being a netizen, I knew I could slip this ban lic chat logs comprising daily accumulations Sure, digital networks and hardware-support-

H olidays set in for me, Diwali loomed,


and a time of enforced sociability fi-
nally came upon everyone inhabiting Real
easily by buying and burning digital crack-
ers in place of real ones, at a desi place that
sees an awful lot of online traffic on Second
of scandals and silliness. And when Diwali
swung near, I joined a friendly crowd in the
Desi Beats backyard to watch virtual fire-
ing virtual spaces do have an ecological foot-
print, but the virtual consumerism that takes
place inside virtual environments is different.
Life. Complicating Real Life further, the Life virtual world around Diwali the lone- works light up the midnight Second Life sky. Virtual goods such as the fireworks de-
Supreme Court suspended cracker sales liest time of the year for cybergypsies, and I sat in the grass with avatars or 3D digital scribed above can be created, used and
till November 1, attempting to bring down the busiest time for the virtual worlds desis. bodies controlled by others, reminiscing dumped all with practically negligible
alarming pollution levels that usually take Speaking of time, it had a slow and slip- about phuljharis and chakhris, gazing up at impact on the environment. And why only
pery way of flowing on the fireworks programmed earlier in the day by virtual fireworks? We can speed up the cycle
desi place called Desi Beats Bobby and John. We applauded the best of of consumerism for most goods in Real Life
on Second Life where netizens the creations: a starburst of a thousand tiny that can be virtualised like fireworks, and
gathered to celebrate the fes- diyas exploding out of a rocket, like golden yet keep the ecological impact negligible.
tive (and virtual) spirit of Di- rain streaking through the night sky. There I say most goods because huge portions of
wali. In the run-up to Diwali, I was, not able to remember a celebration the economy are already virtual in the sense
my days in Desi Beats stuttered that had so amused me, feeling as if more that they serve uses that are purely men-
like dreams broken by the in- such amusements lay ahead of me in this vir- tal in nature. Firecrackers going off during
terruptions of Real Life (sleep, tual stay of mine during holidays. I had been Diwali, for example, excite your brain (and
work, meals, and enforced so- around Desi Beats long enough and all the your brain only) no more than a thousand
ciability). In my one week of pleasant distractions with which I had been tiny diyas programmed to explode out of
holidays, I clocked fewer than occupying myself were beginning to make a virtual sky. And here may lie our biggest
10 hours per day in the virtual me wonder: perhaps we, the avatars, had de- hope for solving the ecology dilemma of the
world (far short of the hardcore materialised Diwali, using far fewer resourc- Supreme Court, and for decoupling econom-
netizens typical 16), yet it felt es, deploying far less energy, and burning ic growth from ecological impact.
to me as if I had already spent a far less money than Real Life pomp would. By bringing the culture of virtual spaces
lazy holiday season there. Vir- After all, this is what the Supreme Court had to the culture of Diwali, our celebrations
tual time was in no hurry, nei- been hoping for, a Diwali with no ecological differed from conventional celebrations in
ther was I, so I explored the impact. By bringing the culture of virtual one crucial aspect: ecological impact,
virtual grounds some more, spaces to the culture of Diwali, our celebra-
small-talked with strangers, tions differed from conventional celebra- Source: Business Standard
TheSouthAsianTimes.info DIWALI SPECIAL Oct 28-Nov 3, 2017 15

SPREADING LIGHT AND GOODWILL


BOLLYWOOD

Amitabh Bachchan
treated his fans to a
sweet picture of family
doing the Diwali puja
on Thursday: seen with
wife Jaya, son Abhishek,
daughterinlaw
Aishwarya and grand
daughter Aaradhya.
Happy Diwali from the
entire family... to the
family of the world ...,
he captioned the
photo.

NEW JERSEY

Indian
Americans
celebrate
Diwali on
Newark
Avenue in
Jersey City on
Oct 19.
(Photo:
Mohammed
ENGLAND
Jaffer/IANS).
Fireworks fill the sky as Diwali lights are switched on in
Leicester, UK, on Oct 8. (Photo courtesy PA)

paigned for green and Harit Diwali for


CHANDIGARH
Traffic policemen wear masks on Oct 21 the past two months... It is the result of
to protect themselves from air pollution these (steps) that this year (the air quali
that aggravated due to Diwali despite ty) is much better, he said.
ban on fireworks. Earlier Friday, the pollution monitor of
the staterun System of Air Quality
Forecasting and Research (SAFAR)
turned a deep shade of brown, indicat
ing 'severe' air quality in the city.
However, SAFAR has predicted a rela
tively cleaner post Diwali air due to
favorable meteorological conditions,
which are helping prevent the smoke
filled air from the agricultural belt of
Haryana and Punjab from
entering the national capi
Air quality tal.
New Delhi: Environment minister Harsh having difficulty in better in Delhi Vardhan said that for
monitoring of air qual
Vardhan said on Friday the air quality in breathing. There is
Delhi a day after Diwali was much bet no smog, he said. this Diwali: ity days have been
ter compared to last year and the num Vardhan said his classified into 'good',
ber of poor and very poor days have ministry had prepared
Minister 'satisfactory' and 'moder
People light lamps in the shape of a huge
peace symbol on the eve of Diwali in
come down significantly. even more this year. ate'. "'Poor' and 'very poor' Chandigarh. (Photo courtesy Reuters)
It is not even 24 hours since the I personally wrote to 22.5 days significantly came down.
Diwali celebrations, every person is lakh school principals across the coun 'Severe' days did not even happen this
breathing normally and no person is try. In Delhi, thousands of children cam year," he said.
16 Oct 28-Nov 3, 2017 BOOKS TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Pranab admits eyeing PM's post,


wary of working under Singh
PRANAB MUKHERJEE BETTER QUALIFIED, HAD FULL RIGHTS TO BE UPSET: MANMOHAN
New Delhi: Former President Pranab Manmohan Singh in a different light also be of support to Dr. Singh. As it
Mukherjee expected to be chosen as as (former Prime Minister) P.V. turned out, Dr. Singh would talk to
Prime Minister on two occasions (Narasimha Rao) is assessed today," me on all important issues and
first in 2004 when the United Mukherjee says. seemed to depend on me. We shared
Progressive Alliance (UPA) came to After Sonia Gandhi declined the a good working re lationship,"
power, and later in 2012 ahead of UPA leaders' proposal to become Mukherjee says. The second occa
the Presidential election, he writes Prime Minister on May 18, 2004, sion when Mukherjee expected he
in his latest book "Coalition Years: Mukherjee writes, "Within the would be asked to head the govern
19962012". Congress party, the consensus was ment came just ahead of his nomina
Mukherjee, a veteran Congress that the incumbent must be a politi tion as the presidential candidate.
leader, also says that after Sonia cal leader with experience in party After a meeting with Sonia Gandhi
Gandhi named Manmohan Singh as af fairs and administration... The on June 2, 2012, when the Congress
Former President Pranab Mukherjee and former PM Manmohan Singh
her choice for Prime Minister, he prevalent expectation was that I President discussed with him proba
with opposition leaders at the book release.
was actually reluctant to join the would be the next choice for Prime ble presidential candidates includ
government as a cabinet minister Minister after Sonia Gandhi government because I could not He also said that contrary to what ing him Mukherjee "returned with
under Singh, who had been his jun declined." He says that this expecta work under Manmohan Singh, who people may say or write, the two had a vague impression that she (Sonia
ior when he was Finance Minister tion was possibly based on the fact had been my junior when I was the no serious differences or friction on Gandhi) might wish to consider
under Indira Gandhi. that "I had extensive experience in Finance Minister. The fact was that I any matter during the UPA era. Manmohan Singh as the UPA presi
However, he rubbishes the percep government while Singh's vast expe was reluctant to join the govern Mukherjee elaborates that once he dential nominee".
tion that Manmohan Singh was an rience was as a civil servant with ment, and informed Sonia Gandhi joined the government at Sonia "I thought that if she selected
"accidental Prime Minister". five years as a reformist Finance accordingly," Mukherjee says. Gandhi's insistence, he enjoyed good Singh for the presidential office, she
"A strong nationalist, a man of Minister". But when Sonia Gandhi Speaking at the release of the rapport with Manmohan Singh who may choose me as the Prime
courage and conviction, Manmohan named Manmohan Singh as her book recently, Manmohan Singh "seemed to depend" on him. Minister. I had heard that she had
Singh was certainly not an 'acciden choice and he accepted this. said Mukherjee had every reason to "She (Sonia Gandhi) insisted that I given this formulation a serious
tal Prime Minister'. I am convinced "Some media commentators feel that he was better qualified than should join the government since I thought while on a holiday in the
that the future will judge reported that I would not join the him for the Prime Minister's post. would be vital to its functioning and hills," he writes.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info Oct 28-Nov 3, 2017
18 Oct 28-Nov 3, 2017 Bollywood

Not just one Weinstein REVIEW

out there: Priyanka


A ctress Priyanka Chopra says people
like controversial Hollywood produc-
er Harvey Weinstein are present across
the world. Priyanka slammed Weinstein
and spoke about women empowerment at
the 2017 Marie Claire Power Trip earlier
this week, reportsmarieclaire.com.
Asked whether theres a Harvey Wein-
stein in India, Priyanka said: I dont think
there is and I dont think there is only a Har-
vey Weinstein in Hollywood. I think there
will be a lot more stories that will come up.
That happens not just in India, but all
over the world. Its the power of men try- G u f f a w s g a l o r e
ing to take away the power of women. Its
about feeling powerful and macho.
The star cast of Golmaal Again promoting the film.
We watch the news and look for
things that will be positive and that the
world will be in a better place. But the re-
ality is, the world is not. Its not just about
W hen you go to watch a Rohit Shetty film,
especially the Golmaal series, you
expect magic on screen, not logic. The magic
replete with puns and innuendoes, sponta-
neous performances, are what really engage
you in this over-stretched film. There is en-
sexuality. Its not about sex. Its about of entertainment, albeit, sans rationality. tertainment galore and the situations, though
power, Priyanka said. The former Miss Golmaal Again, the fourth of the series, devoid of reality, evoke constant laughter.
World also spoke against the big boys is a laugh-a-minute comedy about five or- Director Rohit Shetty succeeds in creat-
club and said because of it women are phans who are brought up in the Jamnadas ing a make-believe fantasy world with candy
scared that a misstep might put them at Orphanage in Ooty. Madhav (Arshad Warsi), floss, lots of gloss and imaginary characters
risk of losing a role. Its an isolating feel- Lucky (Tusshar Kapoor), Laxman (Kunal once again and engages you completely.
Priyanka was speaking at the 2017 ing. The easiest thing to take away from a Kemmu), are constantly at loggerheads with Ajay Devgn as Gopal is his usual self and
Marie Claire Power Trip. woman is her work, she said. Gopal (Ajay Devgn) and Laxman (Shreyas has moments when he shines, but is not
Talpade), as Gopal is petrified of darkness outstanding. One has seen him do better.
and ghosts and the three of them love to It is Shreyas Talpade as Laxman who steals

Will go to court
take advantage of his fears and annoy him. the thunder from the gang with his lisp and
Narrated from the point of view of Anna consistently funny demeanor.
Mathew (Tabu), a librarian who can see Tabu as Anna Mathew is staid and re-
ghosts and knows these five orphans and their strained, and her character does not do

against Twitter
friend Khushi from their orphanage days, justice to her as an actor. Overall, Golmaal
the film is revealed in a non-linear manner. Again is one of the better editions of the
Over-the top comedy, fast-paced action series. It definitely revives your interest in
sequences, colorful locales, witty dialogues the franchise.

A ctor Kamaal R. Khan, whose ac-


count on Twitter has again been
suspended over personal remarks
over Bollywood superstar Aamir
Khan, says he will take legal action
against the micro-blogging site. Ka-
maal, whose account was earlier sus-
pended on Diwali last year for giving
bad review to actor-filmmaker Ajay
Devgns Shivaay, says he will not
return on the social media site again.
I have spent four years and lots
of money to build my six million fol-
lowers account on Twitter. Therefore,
I will definitely go to court against

Mersal
Twitter to ask them to reimburse me
the money and time I have spent on
my account so far, read a statement
by Kamaal on the official Twitter
handle of KRK Box Office, where he
shares news and reviews about films.
According to reports, Kamaal re-
Tamil actor Vijay in a still from Mersal.
vealed the climax of Aamirs new film

T
Secret Superstar while reviewing it. amil actor Vijays Diwali release Mersal 17,500 churches, 9,700 mosques and 370
I want to inform all the media has come under attack from BJP leaders temples were built. Out of these what should
that I wont try to open any new in Tamil Nadu, one of whom has also sought be avoided to build hospitals, Raja posted.
account on Twitter if they have to give a communal twist by raking up the According to Raja, education and health-
suspended by account just because actors religion. The actor has been panned care is free in government schools and hos-
Aamir Khan doesnt want me on for his dialogues in the film that takes a dig pitals. It is a lie to say healthcare is free in
Twitter. It means Aamir Khan is the at GST and digital India. Vijay, who had met Singapore. Raja even said Mersal shows
real owner of Twitter, Kamaal said. Narendra Modi during electioneering ahead Vijays ignorance in economic matters as the
I am not angry with Aamir Khan of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, had even Goods and Services Tax (GST) is not a new
at all because its his right to ask Twit- lauded demonetization last year. tax and the tax on liquor is over 58 per cent.
ter to suspend my account if I was However, BJPs National Secretary H. Raja On her part, Tamil Nadu BJP President
saying that his film will be a flop. But in a tweet raked up the actors Christian origins. Tamilisai Soundararajan demanded remov-
Twitter suspended my account just Joseph Vijays hatred for Modi is Mersal. al of the dialogues relating to GST, digital
Self-styled critic Kamaal R Khan has always because Aamir Khan wants and thats Referring to the actors dialogue in the payments and temples from the movie as
been in the news for the wrong reasons. a big surprise for me, he added. movie, Raja tweeted that in the last 20 years, they spread a wrong message.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info Oct 28-Nov 3, 2017
20 Oct 28-Nov 3, 2017 OP-ED TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Ban on crackers: Saffron angst about judiciary


l By Amulya Ganguli Manusmriti excites the admiration of the
world... But to our constitutional pundits

T
he Sangh Parivar is displeased with that means nothing."
the judiciary. Its latest grouse is about However, the Parivar's political twists do
the Supreme Court's ban on crackers. not hide the judiciary's uneven endeavors
First off the block to express discontent to check air and noise pollution by banning
was the Tripura governor, Tathagata Roy. fireworks.
Speaking as a Hindu since it would have The ef forts could not be delayed any
been constitutionally improper for him to longer, considering that India topped the
use Raj Bhavan stationery to issue a state list of the countries with the highest num
ment, he wondered whether the courts will ber of pollutionrelated deaths 2.51 mil
crack down on cremations next. lion in 2015.
Follow ing the governor's g rouse, a Notwithstanding the seriousness of the
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) func problem, the judiciary hasn't followed a
tionary voiced the fear that diyas or the straight, unambiguous path. Instead, there
lamps lit during the Diwali festival might have been unaccountable meanderings
also be prohibited. with bans being followed by their relax
Following these expressions of disquiet ation and vice versa.
by the higherups in the saf fron camp, It is possible that there are mental reser
posters written in Hindi the Parivar's lin vations among the judges about a drastic
gua franca appeared in Delhi criticising intervention which will reduce much of the
Right Wing activists stage a demonstration against Supreme Court's ban on the sale of
the judiciary. One of them said, "for Yakub gaiety associated with a traditional festival
fire crackers in Delhi and NCR.
Memon the Supreme Court holds a hearing even if the illeffects of uncontrolled cele
at 2 in the morning. When will it make time The Internet Hindus have also got into that something is not quite right about the brations are becoming all too apparent.
to hear a plea to allow small children to the act. One of them said that the Supreme legal framework. There was need at this time for a meeting
play with fireworks?" Court is "setting a dangerous precedent and As the RSS magazine, Organizer, said in of minds between the legal and political
Another said, "There are crores of cases is also setting itself up for supreme disre 1949, "the worst about the new constitu entities to ensure that the health of the peo
pending in court. But the judge (only) spect for the law". tion of Bharat is that there is nothing ple is not jeopardised.
seems to find time for cases to do with fes In addition to this call for defiance of the Bhartiya about it. The drafters of the consti After all, with the passage of time, restric
tivals like dahi handi, jallikattu, Diwali". judiciary, the writer refers to the "anger in tution have incorporated in it elements of tions have to be imposed on the customary
The posters were all neatly printed, point some quarters that the courts feel free to British, American, Canadian, Swiss and observance of rituals as has been done in
ing to an effective organisational network interfere only in Hindu religious customs sundry other constitutions. the case of the immersion of Durga idols in
behind them not unlike the Ganeshji doodh and not those of the minorities". "But there is no trace of ancient Bhartiya rivers and lakes.
pi rahein hain (Lord Ganesh is drinking This, indeed, is the crux of the Hindutva constitutional laws, institutions... there is While its intention of consolidating the
milk) campaign in Delhi and elsewhere in angst. For all the formal commitment to the no mention of the unique constitutional Hindu votes behind the BJP is obvious,
1995, or like the mysterious appearance of constitution by the Bharatiya Janata Party development of ancient Bharat. Manu's what is also clear is that the saffronities are
chapatis on the doorsteps of various house (BJP) ministers when taking their oaths of laws were written long before Lycurgus of posing a challenge to the constitutional
holds on the eve of the 1857 uprising. of fice, the saf fron lobby has always felt Sparta or Solon of Persia. To this day... order.

Festive cheer eludes realty sector


l By Vinod Behl rather than launching new ones. Moreover,
in the backdrop of largescale delivery
uch against the expectations of the defaults, home buyers are very much con

M real estate sector, this year's festive


season is turning out to be some
what disappointing for property developers
cerned about the safety of their investment.
This is clearly reflected in the distinct trend
of buyers increasingly opting for readyto
as aspiring home buyers are extra cautious move homes to avoid development risks.
about investments in the backdrop of the That, however, is not contributing to big sale
slowing economy and unstable realty sector, numbers as the readytomove inventory is
hit by the shortterm impact of the Real limited. Today's property buyer is also aware
Estate Regulation Act (RERA) and the Goods about taking an informed decision to buy a
& Services Tax (GST). home after clearly judging the pros and cons
Capitalstarved property developers, sit of buying and renting. In a slowing economy,
ting on huge unsold inventories of residen renting makes better sense from the point of
tial real estate, had been banking heavily on view of cost benefits.
this year's festive season to push sales and Moreover, the Noida controversy over the
cut down their inventories. Their optimism nondelivery of flats to about 100,000 home
stemmed from the fact that property rates buyers, even years after the promised deliv
have bottomed out and the home loan inter ery date, has badly shaken the confidence of
est rate has touched a sixyear year low of prospective home buyers, making them
In the coming months, as RERA and GST settle in, affordable housing will
8.35 per cent and that the enactment of lead the recovery of residential real estate. much more prudent about investing in prop
RERA, which empowers and protects con erty.
sumers, would boost the sentiments of home that developers were quoting allinclusive festivals/shows and offering handsome bar Notwithstanding this dull scenario, there is
buyers. pricing and giving their track record of deliv gains to liquidate their unsold inventories. one noticeable change this time. Unlike last
Buoyed by all this, developers had lined up ery to win the confidence of buyers. This, according to the latest industry statis year, endusers are out in large numbers to
the best of bargains, with attractive deals But, unlike in the past, when prospective tics,stands close to four years, with the NCR explore the market for the readytomove
and discounts that include free modular property buyers eagerly waited for the fes topping with an inventory of 58 months. af fordable and mid segments. And in the
kitchens, free club membership, free car tive sales, this year, the charm of the season Also, unlike the past trend, this festive sea coming months, as RERA & GST settle in,
parking, no GST and no maintenance has somewhat diminished as months before son did not have new of ferings to attract affordable housing, with greater policy sup
charges, no EMI till possession and waiver of its onset, developers and real estate market home buyers as developers were focusing on port from the government, will lead the
stamp duty & registration fee. So much so ing companies had been holding property completing and delivering ongoing projects recovery of residential real estate.

The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info HISTORY Oct 28-Nov 3, 2017 21

China began planning the


1962 war as early as 1959
In China's India War, Asian affairs expert Bertil Lintner argues that China was the
aggressor not India in a war that was merely a small move in the larger strategic
game Beijing was playing to become a world player. Extracts from the new book:
SPYING AND should be on 'in earnest'; all avail
able evidence points to the fact
SUDDEN ATTACK that intelligence gathering and
construction projects began in the

I
t was entirely unexpected that mid1950s, when China wanted to
the Chinese would attack. The challenge India's role as the lead
Indians had observed a massive ing voice of the newly independent
buildup across the border and countries in Asia and Africa. The
there had been several encounters Dalai Lama's flight to India in
between the Indian Army and the 1959 prompted the Chinese to
Chinese PLA (Peoples Liberation switch from contemplating the
Army) in the days before the main possibility of a war with India to
attack, including bombardment of putting their ruminations into con
Dhola and Khenzemane on crete action. Dalvi also quotes, and
October 19, 1962. But the ferocity ridicules, the Chinese version of
and the sheer coordination of the events. The Chinese told the world
Chinese attacks on October 20 and that: 'At 7 o'clock (Peking time) in
the days that followed stunned the the morning of 20th October the
Indian security establishment as aggressive Indian forces, under
well as international observers. At until a year after it had been com lesson. T his remark in the Simultaneous attacks were cover of fierce art illery fire,
daybreak on that day, artillery pleted. The altitude here varies Henderson BrooksBhagat Report launched on other positions, and launched massive attacks against
guns and mortars began intense between 4,300 and 6,900 meters is any way a far cry from the claim the 2nd Rajput Regiment suffered the Chinese Frontier Guards all
bombardments across the Thagla above sea level. During the War, by Neville Maxwell and others that horrendously. Of the 513 members along the Kachileng River and in
Ridge. the Chinese captured several the establishment of the Dhola out of all ranks, 282 were killed that the Khenzemane area.' The poor
Brigadier John Dalvi called it Indian positions in the valley and post triggered the 1962 War and day, 81 were wounded and cap Chinese were driven to se lf
"The Day of Reckoning. The all have since controlled most of the that India was the aggressor. tured alive, and 90 were captured defence by the fire of two out
out assault on Indian positions area. Chinese troops had crossed the unwounded. Only 60 men, mostly ranged paraguns with 400 rounds
north of Tawang was on. During the weeks of fighting in Namka Chu on September 8, sur rear elements got away. A Gurkha of ammunition!
On the western front in Aksai this western sector of the theatre rounded an Indian outpost in the regiment, also in the area, lost 80 Neville Maxwe ll in his book
Chin, the fighting was spread out of the 1962 War, it became obvi gorge, and destroyed two bridges men, with a further 44 wounded, India's China War is not as
over a swathe of land from north ous that the Chinese knew exactly on the river. The nearby Dhola and 102 taken prisoners. The 7th extreme as the Chinese in his ver
to south, covering approximately where the Indians were, how many Post was reinforced and firing Brigade lost a total of 493 men sion of events, but his proChinese
600 km. But the thrust of the there were at each position, and from both sides continued in the that fateful morning of 20 October. account of what happened in 1962
Chinese towards the south was what kind of weaponry they had. area throughout September. Three The total strength of the PLA units would nevertheless have been
confined to a relatively narrow As was the case in the NEFA in the Indian soldiers were wounded that were deployed for the opera equally dismissible if it had not
area, which measured approxi east, prewar intelligence gather when the Chinese threw hand tion on the Dhola and Thagla front been accepted as the truth and
mately 20 km from west to east. ing had been carried out in the grenades at their position, but oth was at least 10,000, supported by often referred to in writings about
Most of the attacks by the PLA Aksai Chin area by small teams of erwise, there were no casualties. heavy artillery and more sophisti the war and the border dispute,
seemed to be confined to dislodg surveyors who could move freely cated weaponry than the Indians even by former US Secretary of
ing Indian troops from the out
posts that had been established as
and, presumably, undetected on
the barren plateau.
CHINESE MOTIVES had in their arsenal.
After the Indian defences were
State Henry Kissinger himself.
The war on the eastern front in
a result of the government's A contentious issue on the east When the final attack came on crushed, the 7th Brigade com NEFA was going to be very differ
Forward Policy rather than for ern front was the location of the 20 October, the Indians found that mander, John Dalvi, who remained ent from that in Ladakh. While the
capturing territory. According to Indian outpost at Dhola in the the Chinese had cut all their tele a prisoner of war in China for Chinese may not have encountered
Indian military analysts, "In the River Namka Chu gorge, where the phone lines the night before. In almost seven months, described many civilians on the Ladakh front,
Western sector, [the] Chinese had borders of India, Bhutan, and Tibet preparation for the assault, the with a large degree of bitterness interacting with the local popula
a limited aim. They were already in intersect northwest of Tawang. Chinese had also taken up posi and in great detail how the chain tion became an important issue for
occupation of most of the Aksai The post was created on February tions on higher ground behind of command had broken down, them in the NEFA, where they
Chin plateau through which they 24, 1962, and according to the Indian defences and were thus and how undersupplied his troops occupied several towns and vil
had constructed the Western Henderson BrooksBhagat Report, able to attack downhill on the were. He quotes a fellow Indian lages. Once the road down from
Highway connecting Tibet and the site "was established north of morning of the attack. Army of ficer as saying that their Bumla had been constructed by
Xinjiang. In this war, their aim was the McMahon Line as shown on After the Chinese artillery bar 'mission was the defence of a polit the Chinese, and Tawang was
to remove the Indian posts which maps prior to the rage from the Thagla Ridge over ical instead of a tactical position. secured as a supply base, it
they perceived were across their October/November 1962 edition. looking the Namka Chu, the PLA The troops slaughtered along the became clear that not only had
1960 Claim Line." It is believed that the old edition destroyed all Indian artillery posi Namka Chu River were spread out scouts been sent in advance by the
They had no intention to move was given to the Chinese by our tions and surrounding fortifica in a thin line, dif ficult to supply PLA to collect crucial intelligence,
forward deep into Indian territory, External Af fairs Ministry to indi tions. The Indian border posts as and impossible to defend.' but its soldiers and of ficers had
as they did in NEFA (now cate the McMahon Line. It is also well as Dhola and Khenzemane Apart from observing the camps also been trained in psychological
Arunachal Pradesh). learnt that we tried to clarify the were overrun by ground forces that had been built by the Chinese warfare.
The Aksai Chin plateau was and error in our maps, but the Chinese within hours, and their defenders for him and the other Indian pris Bertil Lintner, a former corre
still is virtually unpopulated; this did not accept our contention." either lay dead or were captured oners of war, Dalvi also concludes spondent with the Far Eastern
had made it possible for the The Chinese, in any case, would alive. The strength of the Chinese that the 'Chinese preparations Economic Review, Hong Kong, has
Chinese to build their highway not have paid much attention to attacking force was estimated at began in earnest from May 1962', written 17 books on Asian politics
there in the mid1950s without Indian maps. Their objective was 2,000, while the Indians at those so well before the incidents at the and history. This book is published
the Indians finding out about it entirely different: To teach India a outposts numbered only 600. Dhola post. The emphasis here by OUP. IANS
22 Oct 28-Nov 3, 2017 SUBCONTINENT TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Sharif, daughter, soninlaw Negotiations helped end


indicted for graft Doklam row: China
Beijing: A top
Islamabad: Ousted Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Chinese Army official
Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and soninlaw said negotiations with
Captain Mohammad Safdar were indicted by an the Indian Army
accountability court in a corruption reference pertain paved the way for the
ing to the London properties owned by the family. resolution of the
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed Doklam standoff in
three references against the Sharif family related to the Sikkim Sector on
their Avenfield properties in London, the Azizia Steel the IndiaChina bor
Mills as well as another 16 offshore companies. One der.
reference was filed against Finance Minister Ishaq "This year, India
Dar. military crossed the
T he references were filed by the NAB in the borderline into
National Accountability Court in the light of Supreme India and China were locked in an over
China's territory. Of
Court orders in socalled Panama Papers case. The twomonth standoff at Doklam.
course, it has safely
apex court had disqualified Sharif from holding office been resolved now," China's talking on the sidelines of the
on July 28. People's Liberation Army (PLA) 19th National Congress of the
All three accused pleaded not guilty to the charges official Liu Fang said. Communist Party of China.
and vowed to contest the case. The court indicted the "My colleagues in the military "We are doing everything to
former Premier through pleader Zafir Khan as Sharif and other ministries worked protect our national integrity
is in London with his ailing wife Begum Kulsoom very closely and we also had and security," she added.
Sharif did not appear before the accountability court.
Nawaz. The charges against Maryam and Safdar were negotiations many times with India and Chinese troops were
framed in person, Dawn online reported. The former Safdar's indictment, Awami Muslim League (AML) the Indian side," said Liu, the locked in an over twomonth
Prime Minister was also indicted in the AlAzizia Steel leader Sheikh Rashid said: "The law has truly been Staff Officer at the Office for standoff at Doklam. The crises,
Mills and Hill Metal Establishment references as well. implemented..." International Military which erupted in June over
His sons Hassan and Hussain were named co Pakistan TehreekeInsaf (PTI) spokesman Fawad Cooperation of the PLA Central Chinese moves to build a road in
accused in the chargesheet in the references. Chaudhary said his party was satisfied with the Military Commission (CMC). an area claimed by Bhutan,
The court proceeded with the verdict after rejecting progress of the case. China's position contributed a ended in August, with both sides
applications filed by Sharif, Maryam and Safdar "We are happy this case is proceeding correctly and lot to the peaceful resolution of deciding to "disengage" from
requesting suspension of their indictment. at a swift pace. This indictment has come in just one the conflict, she added. Liu was the faceoff point.
Speaking to Geo News about Maryam and Captain case, there are two other cases as well.

Nearly 70 killed in US 'considering' India's


attacks in Afghanistan
Kabul: Nearly 70 people were
killed in a two suicide attacks on
the secondlargest branch of
Islam. The vast majority of
request for armed Drones
Washington: T he Trump
mosques in Afghanistan's capital Afghans are Sunni Muslims.
Administration is "considering"
and in the western province of About an hour before the blast
India's request for armed drones
Ghor, officials said. in Kabul, a suicide attacker deto
for its air force, according to a
A suicide bomber detonated nated explosives at the Khwajagan
senior American of ficial. "Yes,
explosives inside a mosque in a mosque in the DuLayna district of
yes," the administration of ficial
neighborhood of Kabul predomi Ghor province.
told an Indian news agency when
nantly populated by the Shiite The attack occurred as an
asked about India's pending
Hazara minority, Public Health important antiTaliban militiaman,
request about the purchase of
Ministry spokesman Mohammad Fazal Hayat Khan, and his men
armed drones as part of its armed
Ismail Kawusi told Eef. were praying inside, said the
forces' modernization drive.
The blast occurred as wor provincial governor's spokesman,
The armed drones, the Indian
shipers gathered for prayer inside Abdul Hai Khatabi.
Air Force (IAF) believes, would
the Imam Zamam mosque at Khan and several of his men
help it strengthen its defense
around 6.00 p.m. were among the roughly 30 peo
capabilities. Early this year, the
The bomber was standing ple killed, according to Ghor India believes the drones will help strengthen
IAF had requested the US
among the congregation when he police spokesman But Iqbal its defense capabilities.
Government for General Atomics
detonated the explosives, police Nezami. While no group claimed
Predator C Avenger aircraft. It is in terms of foreign military sales, Administration has accelerated
spokesman Basir Mujahid told Efe. responsibility for the attacks, the
understood that IAF would need but really also in defense cooper the process of considering Indian
The Hazara, an ethnic group Taliban said they were behind
80 to 100 units making it ation broadly how to strengthen requests. "The US Navy and the
thought to be of Mongolian origin, strikes this week on military and
approximately a whopping USD 8 our relationship and coopera Indian Navy have been cooperat
are mostly adherents of Shiism, police that left 91 people dead.
billion deal. tion," said the official, who spoke ing for many years on counter
The Trump Administration's on condition of anonymity. piracy ef forts, on ensuring free
considerat ion in this reg ard The official was responding to dom of navigation in the Indian
comes months after a successful questions on defense relationship Ocean and the and Red Sea and
meeting between Prime Minister and India's quest for hightech the Persian Gulf," the official said.
Narendra Modi and President defense equipment and technolo "I think that (defense) coopera
Donald Trump at the W hite gies from the US as part of its tion is only going to increase
House on June 26, during which long overdue armed forces' mod based on the need for it to
the US announced to se ll 22 ernization drive running into sev increase and the kind of trust
unarmed Guardian drones to eral hundred billions of dollars that we are building through per
India, which would add the over the next decade. Previous sonal relationships and through a
Indian Navy's surveillance capa Obama Administration had desig fundamental understanding that
bilities in the strategic Indian nated India as major defense our interests aligned so clearly,"
The blast occurred as worshipers gathered for prayer. Ocean region. "We are at ways to, partner and the Trump the official said.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INTERNATIONAL Oct 28-Nov 3, 2017 23

Catalonia independence: Spain Japanese PM


pushes to remove leaders Abe wins big in
national elections
Madrid: Spanish Prime Minister
Mariano Rajoy has outlined plans
to remove Catalonia's leaders and
take control of the separatist
region. Tokyo: Japan's ruling camp
Speaking after an emergency grouped by Prime Minister
cabinet meeting, Rajoy stopped Shinzo Abe's Liberal Democratic
short of dissolving the region's Party (LDP) and its junior part
parliament but put forward plans ner, the Komeito Party, has won
for elections, BBC reported. a twothirds "super majority"
T he measures must now be lower house election, according
approved by Spain's Senate in the to vote counting results reported
next few days. by public broadcaster NHK.
Large crowds have gathered in The LDP has secured 283 seats
Barcelona to protest against direct of the 465seat lower house of
rule from Madrid. It comes almost parliament and the Komeito
three weeks after Catalonia held a Party has won 29 seats, while
disputed independence referen there were still 10 seats undecid
Rajoy insists Catalonia's selfgovt is not being suspended. ed with vote counting still going
dum. LDP's Abe won a resounding
Spain's Supreme Court had on any of the country's semi being suspended, many will dis on, according to NHK. The rul
victory in the recent snap election.
declared the vote illegal and said it autonomous regions. agree. The removal from office of ing camp taking twothirds
violated the constitution, which Spanish law dictates that elec Carles Puigdemont and all the majority in lower house would the Constitutional Democratic
describes the country as indivisi t ions must be he ld w ithin six members of his cabinet, to allow pave the way for the prime minis Party of Japan (CDPJ) are vying
ble. Catalan leader Carles months of Article 155 being trig ministers in Madrid to take on ter to realize his longterm ambi for the largest opposition.
Puigdemont has ignored pleas gered, but Rajoy said it was imper their duties, amounts to a major tion of revising the postwar paci The Party of Hope, while shar
from the national government to ative that the vote be held much reining in of Catalonia's devolved fist constitution, local analysts ing the LDP's conservative views
abandon moves towards independ sooner. powers. said. "I want to accept this victory on constitutional change and
ence. Rajoy's use of Article 155 had The Spanish Prime Minister said with humility," Abe told a televi security laws, has been against
Rajoy said the Catalan govern been widely anticipated, but his one of his aims is to restore peace sion program after the election. consumption tax hike and criti
ment's actions were "contrary to announcement when it came still ful coexistence to Catalonia with He added that he expects "dis cized Abe's economic policies
the law and seeking confronta had a huge impact. The article has these measures. cussions on revising the constitu dubbed Abenomics.
tion". He said it was "not our wish, never been invoked before, so Many Catalans who want to tion to deepen" in the parliament The CDPJ, set up only about a
it was not our intention" to impose there was a certain amount of remain in Spain will approve of in an attempt to seek more sup couple of weeks ago by the col
direct rule. mystery surrounding its potential this strident action. But those who port from various forces on the lapsing Democratic Party's liberal
This will be via Article 155 of reach and meaning. want independence for their issue. Meanwhile, the "reform con wing, was quick to rise after vot
Spain's constitution, which allows Although Rajoy insisted that region are likely to see this as a servative" Party of Hope led by ers' initial enthusiasm for the
it to impose direct rule in a crisis Catalonia's selfgovernment is not provocation rather than a solution. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and Party of Hope ebbed.

Russia not to take part in US cannot be called


talks to amend Iran ndeal 'civilized' country: Erdogan
Moscow: Russia has said it is Istanbul: Turkish President Recep Tayyip
confident that Iran is fulfill Erdogan said he would not call the United
ing all its obligations under States a "civilized country" after deten
a multilateral agreement on tion warrants were issued for his body
its nuclear program and will guards over a brawl during his visit in
not take part in any talks on May.
amending the deal. "If America issues detention warrants
Russian Deputy Foreign for my 13 bodyguards in a country where
Minister Sergei Ryabkov I went upon invitation, sorry but I cannot
made the remarks at an call this country civilized," Erdogan said
internat ional nuclear at a forum in Istanbul, Xinhua reported.
weapons nonproliferation More than 10 people were injured in a
conference here, TASS news brawl with protesters in May outside the
agency reported. Turkish embassy in Washington that
Russia is not ready to par involved Erdogan's bodyguards. In June,
t icipate in any talks on the US authorities issued detention war
amending the Joint rants for a total of 16 people including
Comprehensive Plan of the bodyguards over the incident, spark
Action ( JCPOA), Ryabkov ing repeated denunciations from the
was quoted as saying. president and others.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. Erdogan has been denouncing the US
The deal is delicately bal Erdogan noted that two of the body
over its support to the outlawed PKK.
anced and any change could cause the sanctions. However, on October 13, US guards in question were responsible for
collapse of the whose agreement, he President Donald Trump called for decer the protection of his wife and were not Washington has refused to extradite
warned. The JCPOA was reached between tifying the agreement, alleging Iran had even on the scene at the time. Gulen and continued arming Syrian
Iran, the five permanent members of the committed "multiple violations". The President had said that the protest Kurdish militia seen by Ankara as terror
United Nations Security Council Britain, Though the decertification would not was organized by members of the out ists, moves that have chilled relations
China, France, Russia and the United mean Washington exit ing the Iran lawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) between the two NATO allies.
States plus Germany, in July 2015. nuclear deal at the moment, it would and a network led by Turkish cleric Erdogan has been denouncing the US
Under the deal, Iran agreed to halt its open a 60day window in which the U.S. Fetullah Gulen, who is living in the US and some European countries over their
nuclear weapon program in exchange for Congress could reimpose nuclearrelated and accused by Ankara of orchestrating a support for the PKK and the Gulen net
economic aid and lifting of international sanctions on Iran. failed coup in Turkey last year. work in recent days.
24 Oct 28-Nov 3, 2017 BUSINESS TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Rs 2.11 lakh crore recapitalization for banks to boost growth


New Delhi: In a stimulus package expected to have a noticeable would count as debt, while their
aimed to boost flagging economic impact in the near term, con exact nature would be made avail
growth, create jobs and increase tributing to accelerated economic able in due course.
credit flow, the Union Cabinet activity, employment, and growth T he government, however,
approved a Rs 2.11 lakh crore of the economy," he added. denied that this support to banks
recapitalisation plan for staterun The public sector banks' recapi would affect fiscal consolidation.
banks and massive road infra talisation comes amid increase of The Finance Minister said the
structure investment of nearly Rs their nonperforming assets banks would get Rs 18,000 crore
7 lakh crore over five years. (NPAs), or bad loans, to 82 per under the Indradhanush plan.
Indian industry warmly wel cent of their stressed assets, Under the Indrad hanush
comed the steps. Kumar said. roadmap introduced in 2015, the
Of the support to banks, Rs 1.35 "The NPAs of government banks government had announced infu
lakh crore will be raised through have increased to Rs 4.55 lakh sion of Rs 70,000 crore in state
recapitalisation bonds and the crore between 2015 and 2017," run banks over four years to meet
remaining sum through budget he said. their capital requirement in line
ary support and market borrow "Of this, 12 cases, since referred with global banking risk norms
ings, Financial Services Secretary to the NCLT (National Company known as BaselIII.
Rajiv Kumar told the media in the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Law Tribunal), account for Rs This stimulus package comes
presence of Finance Minister 1.75 lakh crore, or 25 per cent of after data from various sources
Arun Jaitley and a battery of through PPP (Rs 1.06 lakh crore) the situation as it develops," he all NPAs," he added. showed India's GDP growth flag
Ministry Secretaries. and from accruals to the central said. "We have conducted an Pointing out that the accumulat ging under the twin impact of
Under the road connectivity road fund and toll collections (Rs analysis within the Ministry and ed NPA figures reflect the result demonetisation and Goods and
programme, the government will 2.19 lakh crore). held detailed consultations with of "aggressive lending" in the past, Services Tax.
construct 84,000km highways in Jaitley said the economic blue the Prime Minister on the state of Jaitley said the government's Commenting on the develop
five years. Of this, the Bharatmala print to revive growth being pre the economy. We have decided on move to fund banks comes at a ment, State Bank of India
project component will involve an sented follows extensive recent the steps needed to sustain the time when private sector invest Chairman Rajnish Kumar said in a
outlay of Rs 5.35 lakh crore and discussions on the state of the growth momentum," the Finance ment has dwindled. statement: "T his milestone
generate 14.2 crore mandays of Indian economy. Minister said. Chief Economic Advisor Arvind announcement on recapitalising
work. Its funding will be raised as "You will recall the press confer "The unprecedented recapitali Subranmanian, who was also banks in one go is a bold and
debt from the market (Rs 2.09 ence last time, where I mentioned sat ion and the init iat ives present at the briefing, clarified courageous move and the need of
lakh crore), private investments we will respond appropriately to announced today (Tuesday) are that the recapitalisation bonds the hour."

Commerce Minister to visit Infosys net hiring negative


US to discuss trade issues again as more techies quit
New Delhi: Commerce Minister Suresh property rights are expected to figure Bengaluru: For the second con ance package to the former
Prabhu will leave this week on a three in the trade policy forum meeting secutive quarter, global soft Chief Financial Of ficer (Rajiv
day visit to the US to meet with his between India and the US on October ware major Infosys Ltd report Bansal) resulted in hundreds of
American counterpart Wilbur Ross for 25 in Washington. ed that its net hiring was nega laterals and middle level execu
the first trade and commerce talks Prabhu said that on the second leg tive in Q2, with more techies tives quitting in droves over the
between India and the US administra of the visit, he will visit Cuba, from quitting than it recruited as in last three quarters.
tion led by President Donald Trump. October 2831, to hold discussions on the first quarter of this fiscal. The boardroom battles also
"Tonight, I'm going to the US to meet boosting bilateral trade. "Our net addition is minus led to the exit of its first non
my counterpart Commerce Secretary "I am going to meet quite a few min 113 despite recruiting 10,514 founder Chief Executive Vishal
as well as Trade Representative of US. isters. We have invited them in people, as 10,627 employees Sikka, return of cofounder
This is the first time India is going to Havana for meeting them on how can resigned in the second quarter," Infosys nonexecutive Chairman Nandan Nilekani as nonexecu
have a structured interaction on we promote bilateral trade with them," Nandan Nilekani. (Photo: IANS)
a company of ficial told IANS tive Chairman in August and
Commerce and related issues with the he said. The Minister also said the here. cent in Q1 and 15.7 per cent in revamp of the Board in August.
Trump administration," Prabhu told government is trying to develop an As a result, the company's the same period year ago. "On the employee front, opera
reporters here at the launch of the exclusive portal for startups and work headcount worldwide declined In the first quarter (Q1), nega tional efficiencies that gave the
website of the Cell for IPR Promotion ing to create a single website for all again to 198,440 in Q2 from tive hiring was 1,811 despite benefit, we funnelled many of
and Management (CIPAM). exports and international trade activi 198,553 quarter ago and gross addition of 8,645 new that towards compensation
"Therefore, it is a very important ties. "I have already told DGFT 199,829 year ago. people, as a whopping 10,456 increases. We had the first
meeting in which we will be dis (Director General Foreign Trade) Aand According to the employee resigned, lowering the head phase of compensation increas
cussing issues from their side as well they have started working on it. A lot metrics, consolidated attrition count to 198,553 by June 30 es ef fective July," said Chief
as our side. I will also be meeting a lot of agencies have to be taken on board, of the company and its sub from 200,364 by March 31. Financial Of ficer M.D.
of business leaders there from India particularly with Customs, because sidiaries increased to 21.4 per Employee utilisation, howev Ranganath in a statement here.
and the US," he said. During his visit most formalities of import and export cent in Q2 from 21 per cent er, was at an alltime high of "We also had variable pay
between October 2528, Prabhu will are with Customs," he said. quarter ago and 20 per cent 84.7 per cent in Q2. The open increase during the quarter. On
also meet US Trade Representative "Soon we want to organise a round year ago on annualised basis. war between the company's multiple fronts, the quarter
Robert Lighthizer. table on startups. Soon, you will hear Attrition of the parent compa founders and the previous under review has been stable
Issues like visa, greater market good news on ease of doing business," ny (standalone) went up to 17.2 Board since February over cor and the performance has been
access for goods, and intellectual he added. per cent in Q2 from 16.9 per porate governance and sever satisfying."
TheSouthAsianTimes.info SPORTS Oct 28-Nov 3, 2017 25

Hockey: India beat Malaysia to win Asia Cup


Dhaka: India underlined their conti
nental supremacy as they overcame
a fighting Malaysia 21 in the final
here on Sunday to win the Asia Cup
hockey championship for the third
time.
Ramandeep Singh (3rd minute)
and Lalit Upadhyay (29th) scored
for the 2014 Asian Games gold
medallists India. Shahril Saabah
(50th minute) scored the reducer
for Malaysia, forcing India to
defend their territory for the nerv
ous late moments of the game.
India's previous two titles came in
2003 and 2007.
The fivetime runnersup seemed
determined against Malaysia, who
reached the Asia Cup final for the
first time.
India got of f to a dream start
when S.K. Uthappa made a long
pass from the left. At the left post,
an unmarked Ramandeep tapped Indian team with Hero Asia Cup 2017 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Photo: IANS)
the ball on to the bar. When it
rebounded, he didn't miss to give high and earned two penalty cor was deflected home by Lalit. chances to extend their domination. cross from the rig ht the next
India an early advantage. ners in the 19th and 26th minutes A handsome 20 lead at halftime In the 34th minute, India could minute. A stunned Malaysia began
The pace of Indian forwards cre but the flicks from Harmanpreet triggered social media speculation have made it 30 but Gurjant, fed foraying into the Indian defense in
ated troubles for the Malaysians, Singh couldn't trouble Malaysian that the Indian team, coached by by a pacy Ramandeep, was denied the fourth quarter. India survived
who were pegged back in their half. custodian Kumar Subramaniam and Sjoerd Marijne, would again thrash by a diving Subramaniam. some anxious moments towards the
Malaysia responded by winning a the defenders. Malaysia like in an earlier game. India got further chances to close but they held on to the 21
penalty corner in the 13th minute However, the intense play helped India, Asia's topranked side, con extend the scoreline. Lalit hit wide scoreline before celebrations erupt
but Indian goalkeeper Suraj India w in a second goal as a trolled the game in the third and in the 40th minute while ed in their camp at the Maulana
Kerkera was alert. India pressed Gurjant Singh cross from the left penultimate quarter, creating many Ramandeep failed to connect a Bhasani Hockey Stadium.

Shuttler Srikanth
wins Denmark
Siraj, Iyer included for New Zealand T20Is
Mumbai: Hyderabad pacer Mohammed Siraj announced for the first two Tests against Sri

Open title and Mumbai batsman Shreyas Iyer are the


fresh inclusions in the India squad for the
Lanka. India skipper Virat Kohli may be rest
ed for the final contest of the threematch
Odense (Denmark): Indian shuttler Kidambi three Twenty20 Internationals ( T20I) Test series against Sri Lanka and the subse
Srikanth clinched his third Superseries title against New Zealand, starting November 1. quent limitedovers series against the same
of the season as he Veteran Ashish Nehra has been picked opponents in order to keep him fresh for the
crushed South Korean only for the first T20I in New Delhi, which is tour of South Africa which starts on
Lee Hyun II to win the slated to be his last match. December 30. "With regards to Virat Kohli,
men's singles title of the "Iyer has been prolific across formats in there was some speculation that he is going
Denmark Open here. firstclass, onedayers, T20 he's been per to be rested for the whole of Sri Lankan
Eighth seed Srikanth forming consistently," chairman of selectors series, it is not right. As far as the Test series
cantered to a 2110, 21 M.S.K. Prasad told reporters here. is concerned, he is going to play and at some
5 win in just 25 minutes "If we pick a player, we will give him a point of time, the rotation policy that we are
as he added to the titles Shreyas Iyer during a practice session.
long run. The same applies for Siraj." following will apply to the captain," Prasad
of Australian Open and Indonesian Open in (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)
While Delhi's Feroz Shah Kotla will host said. "We are also monitoring his workload.
the season. Overall, it was his fifth the first of the three T20Is on November 1, spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and He has been playing continuously right from
Superseries title. Playing in his fourth the second and third games will be played Ravindra Jadeja made a comeback to the the Indian Premier League (IPL) till today,
Superseries final of the year, the 24yearold on November 4 and 7 respectively at Rajkot longest format as the selectors also recalled we need to give him a break which we will
from Guntur was dominant from the begin and Thiruvananthapuram. Meanwhile, the opener Murali Vijay to the squad, consider after the Test series," he added.
ning, determining the pace of the game.
World No.15 Lee hardly got a grip of
Srikanth's tenacity, placements and the vari
ety of his strokes.
Indian referees will officiate in FIFA events: Busacca
In the first game, Lee showed stomach to Kolkata: Although they lack biggame expe added.
fight for points, taking a 31 lead. But rience, Indian referees can officiate in top Asked why Indian referees were not
Srikanth equalised 33 before holding a 43 level FIFA events, feels head of refereeing included in the panel for the ongoing FIFA
lead. Lee fought back and equalised in the Massimo Busacca. U17 World Cup which is being hosted by
very next action. The Indian held an 116 "Referees from India were here one week the country for the first time, Busacca said:
lead in the first game till the midgame break when we did the preparations. So it was my "This group of referees and assistant (refer
and then Srikanth kept firing winners and decision to invite a group of elite referees ees) is part of a project, Candidates for
forcing Lee to make unforced errors. and instructors. To see how we are work World Cup Russia 2018. "Normally in some
Lee many times was not even able to pick ing. To how top professional referees wake seminars we invite some referees who have
up Srikanth's serves either he was slow to up in the morning and be ready for a the potential to officiate in the future. But
FIFA Head of Refereeing Massimo
react or wrongly anticipated the pace and game," Busacca told reporters. in FIFA competition we prepare referees for
Busacca in Kolkata. (Photo: IANS)
flight of the shuttle. With his smashes falling "My feeling was that they really appreci the next World Cup. We also take into rank
in place, Srikanth raced to a 2110 win in the ate and really understood what they have "Still they lack experience of top game ing of confederation. If I take Asia we see
first game. The second game was a oneway to do. Now it's in their hands. So in the but we saw in this country football is there is no candidate.
traffic, with a ruthless clinching of one point future, they know what they have to do and increasing and in my opinion in few years You are ready to organize a World Cup.
after another. a top referee has to prepare for a match. I also top referees from India will be at top You are also enjoying football," Busacca
saw a group of referees motivated. level FIFA competition. I am really sure," he said.
26 Oct 28-Nov 3, 2017 SELF HELP TheSouthAsianTimes.info

P
eople who build their
homes in the lap of mother
nature may have a healthier
pared to those living the urban
green, water or wasteland, the
researchers observed.
This exercise can boost brain power
brain and may be at lower risk of "Research on brain plasticity esearchers have found that researcher at the Henry M. about their brain or cognitive abil
developing stressrelated depres
sion and anxiety disorders, says a
study.
supports the assumption that the
environment can shape brain
structure and function.
R practicing what is known as
a "dual nback" exercise can
lead to improvement in working
Jackson Foundation for
Advancement of Military Medicine
Inc in Maryland.
ities had changed.
The researchers found that the
group that practiced the "dual n
The findings showed that city "That is why we are interested memory, which is what people The researchers decided to com back" exercise showed a 30 per
dwellers are at a higher risk of in the environmental conditions rely on to temporarily hold details pare directly the leading types of cent improvement in their work
psychiatric illnesses such that may have positive in their mind like phone numbers exercises and measure people's ing memory.
as depression, anxiety e f fects on brain and directions. brain activity before and after That was nearly double the
disorders and schizo Living development," said The "dual nback" is a memory training. gains made by the group working
phrenia than coun lead author sequence test in which people First, the team assembled three with the other common task,
tryside dwellers.
near woods Simone Kuhn, must remember a constantly groups of participants, all young known as "complex span".
updating sequence of visual and adults. Everyone took an initial The dual nback group saw
This is because
life in a city is full
may cut stress, psychologist at
the University auditory stimuli. battery of cognitive tests to deter squares flashing on a grid while
of noise and pollu
tion, and many peo
make brain Medical Center
H a m b u r g
The study published in the
Journal of Cognitive Enhancement
mine baseline working memory,
attention and intelligence.
hearing letters.
They had to remember if the
ple scramble in a con healthy Eppendorf (UKE) suggests it is possible to train the
brain like other body parts with
Everyone also got an EEG to
measure brain activity. Then,
square they just saw and the letter
they heard were both the same as
fined space, increasing Hospital in Germany.
the risk for chronic stress. "Studies of people in the targeted workouts. everyone was sent home to prac one round back. As the test got
In the study, appearing in the countryside have already shown "People say cognitive training tice a computer task for a month. harder, they had to recall squares
journal Scientific Reports, city that living close to nature is good either works or doesn't work. We One group used one leading brain and letters two, three and four
dwellers showed higher activity for their mental health and well showed that it matters what kind exercise while the second group rounds back.
levels of amygdala a central being. We therefore decided to of training you're doing," said lead used the other. The other test, called "complex
nucleus in the brain that plays an examine city dwellers," Kuhn author Kara Blacker who was with The third group practiced on a span," also involves remembering
important role in stress process added. Johns Hopkins University in control task. The training pro items in a sequence, but they do
ing and reactions to danger. By 2050, almost 70 percent of Baltimore at the time of the grams compared are not the com not need to continually update the
On the other hand, people liv the world population is expected research. "This one task seems to mercial products available to con items in their mind.
ing close to a forest showed indi to be living in cit ies, the show the most consistent results sumers, but tools scientists rely "The findings suggest that this
cat ions of a physiolog ically researchers said, adding that and the most impact on perform on to test the brain's working particular task is changing some
healthy amygdala structure and these results could therefore be ance and should be the one we memory. Everyone trained five thing about the brain," said study
were therefore presumably better very important for urban plan focus on if we're interested in days a week for 30 minutes, then coauthor Susan Courtney,
able to cope with stress com ning. improving cognition through returned to the lab for another Professor at Johns Hopkins
training," said Blacker, now a round of tests to see if anything University.

Try some muted shades Social


endeavors may
this autumnwinter get you fired!
I
n preparation for winter, with slim fit denims and
revive your wardrobe with mock layered zippers.
re you leading your company
a fresh whiff of rich fabrics
and classic footwear to keep
yourself in line with the latest
l Bryce Che lsea
boots in suede leather in
tones of earthy brown is yet
A towards making social endeavors?
Beware, corporate social responsi
bility (CSR) investments can act as double
fashion but dont forget to another promising
edged sword, which can either result in
indulge in muted and autum style, which replen
high praise or get you fired, depending on
nal shade apparels to enhance ishes iconic style
the financial returns you gain, researchers
the sharp and robust look, say statement when
warn.
experts. teamed with den
The findings showed that CEOs running
Akshay Narvekar, Founder of ims and biker
firms with higher levels of CSR are 84 per
Bombay Shirt Company, jackets crafted
cent more likely to be dismissed when
Ishaan Sachdeva, Director of in premium
financial performance is poor, compared
Alberto Torresi and Tabby leather.
to their counterparts at firms with lower
Bhat ia, Director of l Also,
levels of CSR.
Voganow.com, dole out tips on when it
The effects of a CEOs past investments
how to remain fashionable comes to
in CSR are substantial and can linger.
with muted shades the coming boots, ankle
However, prior CSR investments can
season. boots in
also reduce a CEOs likelihood of dismissal
l Tattersall check shirts in classic
by 53 per cent when profits are higher,
subtle shades of olive green, hues of
the researchers said.
pale blue and grey are great blacks and
If a CEO has invested in CSR and the
options for casual evenings. d a r k
firm performs poorly, they are much more
These patterns are timeless browns
likely to be dismissed, said Tim Hubbard,
and render a dynamic yet add an
Assistant Professor at the University of
sophisticated look. absolute
Notre Dame in Indiana, US.
l A denim shirt in retro panache J Crews ready to On the other hand, if they have invest
print with polo collar is anoth and boasts wear menswear ed in CSR and the firm performs well, they
er trending style for autumn street style for autumn 2017.
are less likely to be fired. This shows that
w inter 17. Denim adds a look if
CSR investments can be a doubleedged
relaxed yet chic look to ones paired with
sworddo well and theyll buffer you
appearance and gives a breezy ribbed jeans
from dismissal, do poorly and youre more
feel when teamed with earthy and bagg y
From autumn/winter 2017 collection of likely lose your job, Hubbard added.
colored or olive green chinos. knitted
Tarun Tahiliani and Amit Aggarwal. For the study, published in Strategic
l High top leather sneak ing styles Management Journal, the team examined
ers in classic tones of tan, blue, pullover. noticed among styles apt for casual day out all CEO transitions in the Fortune 500 to
black, wine and burgundy are l W hite young generation these days. and parties and goes perfectly assess whether or not they were volun
quite in vogue and look on top sneakers or slipons in plim This shoe style is considered well both with semi casual and tary or the CEO was fired.
of the fashion when teamed solls are one of the hot trend to be one of the most versatile semiformal outfits.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info HUMOR Oct 28-Nov 3, 2017 27

Funny Side by Nury Vittachi

Smartphone apps
give you superpower
to use for good or evil
D
ads of the world need a
smartphone app that
detects whenever a fami
ly member is reaching out to
buy something in a store and
then speaks out loud in a Dad

BEST Voice: "Come on, do you really


need that?"

RATE We dads can't be everywhere


at once and modern children

FOR seem to have an insatiable


appetite to waste money on

INDIA needless luxuries such as food,


drink and the like.

AND I told my kids that in the old


days our parents would throw
(Image courtesy: kohnotuj.blogspot.com)
PAKISTAN us a gnawed stegosaurus bone
once a week and we were piti
fully grateful. service, on his wife's phone. Over the following
Many current phone functions just make days, all his trips showed up on his wife's
New York Head Quarter life harder. Last week, I accidentally switched phone, including secret ones to one or more
my smartphone to British English and it now mistresses. She found them very interesting
422S Broadway
keeps saying things like: "On a bloody bender indeed, as did her divorce lawyer. The hus
HICKSVILLE again, you cheeky daft plonker?" At least it's band is now suing Uber for ruining his life,
a compliment, or so a British friend tells me. rather than his own genitalia, which it seems
NY 11801
Technology is a super power which should to me are clearly at fault.
5168271010 be used for good. Also last week, I lunched Another lunch attendee shared a recent
with techy people who told me that the report from the United States. A woman called
smartphone has become a massively success Stephanie was so horrified by a long conversa
ful "antijerk device". tion she overheard on a train that she took a
One shared a news item about a naughty sneak photo of the main speaker and put it on
guy in France who called up Uber, the taxi the Internet with a caption: "If this is your hus
band I have spent 2 hours listening to him and
his friends brag about their multiple af fairs

Laughter is the Best Medicine and how their wives are too stupid to catch
on."
It's not just guys who get caught out. A male
technology correspondent at the lunch said
that Facebook often exposed the cheating
ways of women.
He showed me a post by a woman called
Sarah who put a "conversation starter" on her
Facebook page: "How did we meet?" A woman
named Jessie responded promptly: "You were
screwing my husband."
He also showed me a reallife Facebook
exchange which has gone down in history.
Lynette: "Well everybody, guess what, I'm sin
gle again, but I'm not upset bcuz who wants to
be with someone that's gonna cheat on me."
Brittany: "Awww what happened?" Lynette:
"He wanted to b with his wife."
But back to the concerns of Family Men. A
colleague, a father of three, has come up with
another app that dads desperately need.
It would be called something like "Font Of
All Knowledge". When children or wives ask
questions that Dads dislike, such as "Can we
buy this?", the app would give Dad a wise
sounding response: "Sorry: leading indicators
prevent retail expenditure at the moment
By Mahendra Shah because of a fall or rise in the semicircular
futures options hedges weighted beneficiary
Mahendra Shah is an architect by education, entrepreneur by profession, artist and humorist,
composite valuations thingummy index."
cartoonist and writer by hobby. He has been recording the plight of the immigrant Indians for the past many years
Brilliant idea. I congratulated him on being a
in his cartoons. Hailing from Gujarat, he lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
cheeky daft plonker.
28 Oct 28-Nov 3, 2017 ASTROLOGY TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Chandigarh, India: +91-172- 256 2832, 257 2874


By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma Delhi, India: +91-11- 2644 9898, 2648 9899
psharma@premastrologer.com; www.premastrologer.com

OCTOBER 28NOVEMBER 3, 2017 ANNUAL PREDICTIONS: FOR THOSE BORN IN THIS WEEK
ARIES: Keep business interests supreme LIBRA: Time to put thrust on looking for 28th October, 2017 ventures and associations would prove benefi
while hiring professionals. To avoid con selfdriven people who could take busi Influenced by number 1 and the Sun, you are cial. The love of your life would make few
icts give an ear to family members. ness to newer heights. Domestic con authoritative, confident, determined, responsi important decisions, which might make you
Explore new investment opportunities that cerns will require your immediate attention. You ble and creative person. You are very attracted feel insecure and threatened. You need to show
comes your way, commit only after considering need to control your spending by purchasing only to your father who is generally your inspira that you are adjustable and supportive to
the viability of the projects. Traveling proves a essential items. Maintain a distance from people tion and best friend. You are highly decent and strengthen your relationship. Home front
blessing in disguise by bringing a love in your trying to pry into your romantic affair. Time for well mannered, but you need to curb your ten would be peaceful and family members would
life. Dont forget to use your energy to help Hypertension patients to change their eating dency to behave careless and spendthrift at extend all possible help and cooperation.
someone in distress to benet both. Your trip habits. You might get a chance for business trip, times. This year you will make major gains if Children will be supportive but demanding.
will be beneciary for work but not for your which will help you in new connections. You you associate with creative people. Your per Wedding bells for those seeking a matrimonial
personal life. Banks love to nance those, who might deal in some ancestral property or any formance will be at its best and you will easily alliance seem likely later in the year. The
invest in properties which are under develop other parental property. If possible, avoid unnec impress your seniors with your dedication and months of May, August and January will be
ment. Forced travelling brings pleasure more essarily criticizing yourself. ability to handle jobs, which require immense important and eventful.
than expectations. SCORPIO: You fail to achieve the desired responsibilities. Property transaction, or con
TAURUS: A very good week to apply for results on trying to search shortcuts to struction, or renovation will be high on your 1st November, 2017
overseas job. You would prefer to relax professional problems. Arguments & dis agenda. Moments at home will not be all that Governed by number 1, and the Sun, you are
and enjoy the company of family mem agreements with family members might bring pleasant. You will suffer due to the very unpre original, active, responsible and a talented per
bers in the evening. Certain important plans some tense moments. Investing money on others dictable behaviour of your spouse. Spiritual son. You are highly skillful and fond of accept
will be executed, bringing fresh nancial gains. wording will only be inviting nancial losses. gains provide solace and comfort. A journey ing challenges, but you need to control your
Love life brings immense romantic pleasure. Better to restrain yourself to prevent losses. You abroad is also on the cards for some of you. tendency to dominate, overspend and behave
Try to keep yourself busy because an empty are likely to suffer heartache on separation from The months of April, July, September and destructive at times. The coming year brings
brain is a devils workshop. Thinking of a holi love partner. Your energy level will be high. Better March will remain significant. rewards and recognition for you. Financial ben
day trip with difference could bring difference to channelize it in a positive direction. Time to efits will flow through various sources. New
to your budget. Investing internationally means resolve your issues otherwise travel plans may 29th October, 2017 sources of income will enhance your living
you have to follow their laws on real estate. not work out. Be careful as your long term invest Ruled by number 2 and the Moon, you are style. Real estate matters will bring enormous
Circumstances would require sticking to your ment plans are going to face some legal issues. highly imaginative, practical, emotional, hon gains. Journeys undertaken for work purpose
convictions. You might feel frustrated as temporary but unex est, simple and generous person. You have a will be beneficial and rewarding. Sudden
GEMINI: Promotions and monetary ben pected personal disturbances trouble you. very sharp mind, an exceptionally good grasp expenses due to health problem in the family
ets for dedicated professionals. This SAGITTARIUS: Subordinates/coworkers ing power and you believe that its never to late will bother your mind. Judicial matters could
week you move with new excitement & would be very helpful. Time spent with to learn. You have a pleasing personality and upset your mental peace. Secret affairs should
condence as you receive support from family relatives will be to your advantage. You manners, but you need to check your tendency be avoided, as it will only ruin your reputation.
and friends. Speculations are likely to bring succeed in making some extra cash on playing to behave extravagant and moody at times. The months of October, January, March and
monetary prots. You are likely to get a new your cards well. New romance that some of you This year your energy will be high and you July will be result oriented.
friendship opportunity in the evening. Your are going to experience would take the worries will feel strong enough to face any challenge.
condence and energy will be high during this off mind. Health secret for you: mental enemies Middle of the year seems exceptionally good 2nd November, 2017
week. A group of friends or your partner is lower the diseaseresisting power of the body for those who are looking for a change in their Ruled by number 2 and the Moon. You are
looking forward for a vacation with you. A therefore, do not allow any unwanted thoughts to career, as they will receive an excellent job highly trustworthy, emotional, simple, friendly
good deal on commercial property might come in your mind. Traveling overseas would be of fer. Frequent and fruitful journeys will be and warmhearted person. You have a desire
occur. You are likely to be contacted by an old an experience full of spark that enlightens your undertaken. You will also improve your rela for learning and gathering knowledge and peo
friend reminding some sweet memories. imagination. A deal regarding residential property tionship with important people during this ple look up to you for consultation and inspira
CANCER: You nd it very difcult to can start moving on its right path. You are likely period. Children will win laurels at school and tion, but you need to check your tendency to
achieve set targets at professional to enjoy sheer pleasure & fun if you venture to overachieve the expectations of their parents. behave introvert, hasty and whimsical at times.
front. Domestic pressure would make take a ride this week. Family members will gather around you pro You need to take stronger decisions to reap
you shorttempered & restless this week. CAPRICORN: This week much of profes viding you with love and affection. The months benefits. Challenges that you accept during this
Unexpected bills will increase nancial burden. sional success depends on senior col of July, November and February will be highly phase would bring overwhelming results in the
You nd it hard to please romantic partner. leagues cooperation. Relatives bring you eventful. long run. Your financial condition would
Control your negative emotions to save your unexpected gifts but also expect some kind of help improve later in the year, as you would pickup
health. Perfect getaway time for you and your from you. If possible take independent decisions 30th October, 2017 jobs involving higher responsibility and posi
partner. Property disputes can be there. At per when it comes to making fresh investments. Governed by number 3 and the planet tion. A sudden influence of a spiritual person
sonal front you could be full of good ideas but Spending time with your beloved/lover is very nec Jupiter, you are energetic, honourable, ambi would have a remarkable influence on your
might nd a little difcult to translate them. essary for you. Positive outlook impresses those tious, dignified and an intelligent person. You personality and thoughts. Students would excel
LEO: Good week for implementing new around you besides keeping you t & ne. Vacation are a person with outstanding personality and in their academic performance. Some exhilarat
plans and ventures. You nd relief, com plannings might go wrong so keep an eye on it. ability to make many friends. You are always ing news from your overseas relations will
fort and af fection in the company of Investment on restaurant might be strain on your appreciated for your sincerity and commit boost up the spirits of the entire family. Travel
family members. Hard work of previous days check book. Time to bring changes by adopting a ment, but your need to check your tendency to and journey will be pleasurable. The months of
brings good fortune enabling to fulll mone new & more balanced attitude in daily life. behave over ambitious and dictatorial at times. September, November, March and May will be
tary promises. If possible enjoy quality time in AQUARIUS: Medical transcription pro This year new plans and projects will be significant for you.
the company of lover/beloved to cement the fessionals are likely to nd it difcult to alluring but instant gains might not be possi
lovely bond. Although soar throat would not achieve their targets. A close family ble. Great period for consultants and brokers. 3rd November, 2017
come in the way of routine schedule, even then member makes you feel jealous and irritated with Investment is definitely recommended but sud Ruled by number 3 and the planet Jupiter.
you must take some herbal treatments to get an envious behaviour. Unexpected rise in expens den losses due to thoughtless decisions cannot You are energetic, ambitious, dignified, and
immediate relief. A leisure trip will prove to be es could imbalance budget. Interference of a be ruled out. New romance for some as others kindhearted person. You are fond of good
a premium time for you. Their might be a third person could create frictions in love. The get involved in a matrimonial wedlock. Distant music and nature and you also like to enjoy
chance of acquiring a plot from your closed rel pressure of making important decision may make pilgrimage is certain later in the year. Dont be your privacy and independence. You hold a
ative. You nd many of your unrealizable you tensed & highly nervous. Travel plans for bet too friendly with strangers and avoid disclos respectable position in the society, but you
dreams coming true during this week. ter communication will be helpful for new hori ing your plans, as chances of deceit are very need to control your tendency to dominate and
VIRGO: Pending proposals will get zons. Your rented accommodation might be dis strong. Be extra careful while lending money behave reckless at times. This year you need
implemented with the help of seniors. puted. You harm personal interests by revealing and take extra care of your jewelry, precious to do some serious thinking on your career
Family front seems to go smoothly as condential information to a third person gifts and items. The months of April, August, options. Few brilliant opportunities would
you receive their full support to your plans. PISCES: Traveling brings new overseas December and February will be important. come your way but you need to act smart and
Monetary position is likely to improve later in business opportunities. Family members quick to grab these once in a lifetime of fer
the week. Harsh words would only ruin roman will be very positive & supportive to your 31st October, 2017 before others. Financial gains would accrue
tic friendship. A week when smile will perpetu plans. An auspicious week to invest money on Influenced by number 4 and the planet from investments and even speculation. A vaca
ally be on your face and strangers will seem items that would grow in value. You enjoy a mem Uranus. You are active, practical, enthusiastic, tion to an exotic location cannot be ruled out
familiar. Being extra ordinary comfortable on orable time with partner to cement the lovely courageous and highly philosophical person. later this year. Your health will remain good
an ofcial trip might affect your work. There bond. Charity work undertaken will bring mental You are a very religious and you have great but health of your spouse or children will
are chances of disputes among the relatives peace & comfort. Business or vacation traveling is appreciation for your culture, traditions and become a matter of concern. Servants, col
regarding ancestral property. what you needed right now. Discussing property rituals. You have a commanding personality, leagues, subordinates will cause some worry
Vigilance is needed as overt enemies might try matters with parents can help for better innova but you need to check your tendency to behave and unnecessary tensions. The months of
to harm you. tions. An improved look adds to your personality. impatient and stubborn at times. This year new November, January and June will be eventful.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info SPIRITUAL AWARENESS Oct 28-Nov 3, 2017 29

Finding fulfillment in this world


desires, what is needed is the right
Life goes on in a way kind of desire. First, we need to
choose a goal. And the right goal
in which we are always is to choose God, to have the
trying to fulfill one merger of our soul in the
Lord.God lies within us.God's love
desire after another is within.There is nothing in the
after another. What outer world
happens is that desires that can compare to that. We
spend our precious life breaths
do not end. When one pursuing the fulfillment of our
By Sant Rajinder is fulfilled, then we have every wish in the worldly sphere.
In the end we find that none of
Singh Ji Maharaj another desire. As we those wishes brings us the happi
try to fulfill that one, ness, love, and contentment we
really want.Instead of seeking the

M
ost people are trying to
fulfill their desires. We
then we have another true treasures outside ourselves
might have a desire to desire, then another. ,we should sit in meditation and
buy a car; we might have a desire find the true wealth within. If we
to buy a house; we might have a would stick to being conscious of
desire to study history or the sci our true self, as soul, we would
ences, or we might desire any find more love and happiness
objects of this world. Our empha What happens is that desires do Life just keeps on passing by. ness is outside ourselves.We think than we can have
sis is on being able to fulfill those not end. When one is fulfilled, We are searching for happiness it lies in wealth,name and from the fulfillment of any
desires. then we have another desire. all over the world.Little do we fame,possessions and relation desire in the world. Then we will
Life goes on in a way in which As we try to fulfill that one, then realise that the true wealth,true ships. find our lives filled with
we are always trying to fulfill one we have another desire, then happiness,and true love are wait Since our human system is set love,bliss,and eternal peace and
desire after another after another. another. ing within us.We think that happi up to focus on fulfilling our happiness.

By Sant Rajinder Singh world. It is only by letting go of going after things that will not made us a slave to it. We no want to upgrade to a faster and
Ji Maharaj the things of this world that we give us happiness. Whatever ma longer have time for our family, more elaborate computer. Next,
can be free. We need to stop terial gains we have in the world our children, or pursuits that will we find the computer that was
nce upon a time, there clutching for whatever binds us can lead us to more bondage if give us more fulfillment. We supposed to save us time is tak

O was a man who lived


alone. He kept his money
in a special jar so that no one
as prisoners of our desires so we
can enjoy true freedom. We need
to stop clutching and let go.
we are attached to them. For ex
ample, if we want a big house,
we have to work longer hours to
spend all our time going after
things that may not give us true
and lasting happiness.
ing up all our time. We end up
spending hours learning to use
the computer. We spend hours
could steal it. One day, while the Then we will find the joy of free pay for its mortgage. Then we Similarly, we may want to buy exploring the Internet. The e
man was out farming his land, a dom. need to fill it up with more and a computer to keep up with the mail system that was supposed
thief broke into his house. Look What kind of joy did the thief more furniture. That will take latest technology. We then find to make communications faster
ing for something to steal, he have in his pursuit of the mon more time to work to pay for it, ourselves working harder to buy is taking more and more of our
came across a heavy stone jar. ey? Instead he ended up a pris shop to buy it, and then to clean all the right software and equip time. Suddenly, we find fifty peo
He could barely jiggle it to hear oner in the jail. We too are like and repair everything. Before we ment to make it work. Soon we ple emailing us daily and they
the coins inside. He could not lift prisoners in the jail of this physi know it, the house that was sup realize that we are not happy expect an instantaneous re
the jar. So the man stuck his cal world. We spend all our time posed to bring us pleasure has with a simple computer. We sponse. If we do not respond
hand in the jar to take out the right away they accuse us of be
money. His hand fit perfectly ing nonresponsive and indiffer
into the jar.
The man grabbed as much
Learn to let go and be free ent. Soon, we are spending hours
on the computer. We have be
money as he could, holding it in come slaves to our possessions.
his fist. But when he tried to pull This article has been selected and reprinted from Sant Rajinder Singh Ji How can we end our bondage?
out his hand, it would not come We need to let go and be free.
Maharajs book, Spiritual Pearls for Enlightened Living, an inspirational
out. He tried his hardest to pull When we can let go of our de
out his hand, but the fist made
collection of stories from the worlds great wisdom traditions. sires for impermanent gains, we
his hand wider. While holding can be free. Then, our soul can
the money, he could not get it experience the love and beauty
through the neck of the jar. He that God has to offer. True hap
let go of the money and his hand piness comes when we connect
was freed to come out of the jar. with the source of joy within
But he was intent upon having usour soul and God. To do so,
the money, so he tried again and we must turn our attention from
again. Each time he enclosed the the worldly enticements and lis
coins in his fist, his hand was too ten to our soul. Beautiful
wide to be removed from the jar. melodies of God are playing
Suddenly, he heard the owner within us all the time. Light and
coming home. He knew that if he love are shining within us. By
did not get his hand out of the turning our attention from the
jar, he would be caught. But he world, we are releasing our hold
was so intent upon trying to get on the coins that keep our hand
the money out that he would not stuck in the jar. By letting go, we
give up. The result was that the are gaining eternal freedom.
man came in, caught him, and By sitting in meditation, free
had him arrested. from all worldly desires and at
We too are like the thief in the tachments, we can let go and
story. Desires cause us to be find ourselves free to soar back
caught with our hand in the jar. to God.
Desires keep us bound to this (For more visit www.sos.org)
TheSouthAsianTimes.info Oct 28-Nov 3, 2017
TheSouthAsianTimes.info Oct 28-Nov 3, 2017
TheSouthAsianTimes.info Oct 28-Nov 3, 2017

Joseph Saladino
Michele Johnson Supervisor James Altadonna Jr.
Councilwoman Clerk
Louis Imbroto Thomas Hand
Councilman Councilman
In just a few short months Supervisor Saladino and his new team have made monumental changes
to restore fiscal responsibility, transparency and high ethical standards.

CUTTING PROPERTY TAXES IN 2018


Joseph
Saladino J Michele
ohnson
Louis
Imbroto H a n d Altadonna Jr. Thomas James

Councilwoman Councilman Councilman Clerk

Supervisor

Cutting Taxes and Restoring the Publics Trust


RESTORING FISCAL INTEGRITY NEW TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVES
3 Cutting Taxes by $1.3 Million in 2018 3 Named Leader in Online Transparency and Accessibility
3 Reduced Town Debt by $71 Million 3 Initiated Open and Transparent Process in Selecting New
3 Achieved Positive Outlook with Standard & Poors Concessionaires at Town Facilities
3 Removed Take-Home Cars from High Level Employees 3 Greatly Increased Online Information
3 Implemented Efficiencies to Save Millions 3 Enhanced Live-Stream of Town Board Meetings

PROTECTING SUBURBAN QUALITY OF LIFE


SWEEPING ETHICS REFORMS
3 Won $10 Million State Revitalization Award
3 Instituted Strict New Ethics Code
3 Compelling Grumman and the Navy to test soil, fully remediate
3 Created New Bipartisan Independent Board of Ethics
the ground water plume and protect our drinking water
3 Named Former Federal Prosecutor as Town Attorney
3 Committed to Preventing Overdevelopment and Urbanization
www.josephsaladino.com
through Smart Economic Growth Policies
Paid for by New York Republican State Committee. Not at taxpayer expense.

VOTE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH

Вам также может понравиться